Overview
Basel is a city of culture. The Renaissance humanist, Erasmus, and the German philosopher, Nietzsche, taught here. The University of Basel, which is was founded in 1460, is the oldest in Switzerland and still exerts a tremendous influence over the town. If that weren't proof enough, the city also boasts more than 30 museums and 150 art galleries. The city likes to have fun, too, as evidenced by the slew of annual fairs and festivals. The famous Basel Carnival (Baslar Fasnacht) is three days of non-stop partying. Despite a growing population that is pushing 200,000, Basel is quite intimate. Visitors should stroll through the charming Old Town, as well as Marktplatz, the town center. Popular sights include the Kunstmuseum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the medieval St. Martinskirch, and the old Basel Cathedral, which contains the tomb of Erasmus.
