Hans Holbein walk
Hans Holbein the Younger (about 1497–1543). Lived from 1514 to 1526 and from 1528 to 1531 in Basel, master portrait artist. Signposts: green on blue. Time required: about 90 minutes. Suitable for wheelchairs.
The city’s position on the Rhine is part of the charm of Basel. You should therefore explore the city on both sides of the river. This walk takes you first to the prosperous quarters in the old part of town and up to the cathedral square (Münsterplatz), where both the secular and the church dignitaries used to live. Today, this cathedral square is the scene of many open-air events, such as the exhibition of
artistically painted lanterns during Basel Carnival (Fasnacht) and some of the attractions of the traditional Basel autumn fair. The patricians’ houses in the knight’s lane (Rittergasse) point the way to the city’s former inner moat and a well-kept residential quarter, St. Alban-Vorstadt. On the way, you will pass the Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum), where – along with the works of many other artists – you can find numerous paintings by Hans Holbein. Passing by the popular Caricature & Cartoon Museum, you reach the church of St Alban. Through an opening in the wall, you will see the courtyard
of the former monastery from the Middle Ages. In this district you can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (Museum für Gegenwartskunst) and the Basel Paper Mill. There is also a completely reserved section of the old city wall which is worth a detour. Take the ferry to cross the Rhine from Grossbasel to Kleinbasel. This former bridgehead is today a lively part of the city of Basel. In and around the mediaeval houses beats the life of a multicultural part of the town. Crossing back over the bridge, known as the Mittlere Brücke, you will pass the “Lällekönig” – the head of a king sticking his tongue out – and return to the market square (Marktplatz).