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OPEN-AIR CONCERTS & FILMS • OUTDOOR POOLS • AMUSEMENT-PARK SPECIAL • ROMAN & MEDIEVAL FESTIVALS Volume 5 Issue 10 CHF 6 6 A Monthly Guide to Living in Basel July / August 2017
2 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com
L E T T E R F R O M T H E E D I TO R
Dear Readers,
Summer is heating up in Basel with plenty of outdoor music, cool relax-
ation, fun festivals, and an ample supply of outdoor fun! Enjoy musical
July / August 2017 Volume 5 Issue 10 entertainment under the stars at the Im Fluss concert series on the Rhein;
Basel’s outdoor jazz festival, Em Bebbi sy Jazz; the Basel Tattoo summer
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S spectacle; the Tension electronic music festival; and the multitude of
open-air music festivals in Basel and beyond. If you prefer to kick back and
Events in Basel: July / August 2017 4–11 relax, you can check out the outdoor cinema at Münsterplatz; enjoy a
throw-back to the 50s and 60s at the drive-in cinema in Pratteln; discover
the Meriangärten, a small garden oasis in the city; experience a leisurely
Fun Outings: Beyond Basel 12–13 float down the Rhein; or chill out at one of the numerous local pools. With
so many opportunities to swim in the summer, be sure to read the article
by our resident expert, Dr. Michelle Knight, about the very important life-
Did You Know? 14–15
saving procedures you should know to assist a potential drowning victim.
Basel is also sizzling with festivals of all kinds this summer, including a
Get Going! O
utdoor Swimming Pools 16–17 dragonboat festival, the Klosterbergfest, a beer festival, the Gässli Film
Festival, a reading festival in the park, a festival for old music, the Fonda-
Information Desk Drowning: Do You Know What to Do? 18 tion Beyeler’s Summerfest, a bicycle festival, and the fabulous Römerfest
at the Roman ruins of Augusta Raurica. Other options to spend your sum-
mer days (and nights) include checking out the beach-volleyball tourna-
Calendar: July /August 2017 19–22 ment in Barfüsserplatz or the motorbikes and classic American cars at
Biker Days, treating the family to one of the many circuses in town, visiting
the old city gates, watching the old-car parade, visiting the zoo at night, or
Inside Basel: Discover the Meriangärten 23
taking a romantic swim by candle- and moonlight. Also, be sure not to
miss the spectacular Swiss National Day celebrations on August 1.
Sports and Recreation 24–27 For more sporty pursuits, jump into the river alongside thousands for the
annual Rheinschwimmen, lace up your running shoes for Basel’s annual
Workshops, Tours, and Education 28–31 Bruggelauf (bridge run), hop on your bike and partake in one of the many
guided bicycle tours this summer, or exercise with others in one of Basel’s
beautiful parks—there are activities for adults, kids, and families. For fam-
Summer Special: Open-Air Music Festivals 32–35 ilies there is also a new summer paradise for kids at the Kunsti Marga-
rethen—with the many activities on offer, it is sure to become your family’s
Entertainment: Night on the Town 36–39 new favorite place for outdoor fun.
Summer is also a great time to venture out of the city and explore the sur-
rounding regions, so why not visit an Alsatian wine fair or flower parade?
Ticket Office: Get Your Tickets Now! back page You can also marvel at the astounding natural beauty of the St. Léonard’s
underground lake, discover Europe by train with the money-saving Inter-
Mark Your Calendar: September 2017 back page rail pass, or spend some unforgettable days at one of the many amuse-
ment parks in the region that are worthy of a drive.
How ever you choose to spend your summer, we wish you lots of fun and/
or happy and safe travels,
Christine
Basel Life Magazine Staff: COVER: Swimming in the Rhein is one of
the favorite ways for Baslers to beat the
Editor-in-Chief: summer heat. Most of the official swim-
Christine Pesold ming lanes are on the Kleinbasel side of the
river, but the Grossbasel side also offers
Advertising & Subscription Manager / Editor:
some swimming opportunities, including
Susanne Hiller
the two “Rhein pools” at Breite (shown on
Design & Print: the cover) and at St. Johann, where you’ll
Schwabe AG find changing rooms, toilets, kiosks, or—in
case of the Rheinbad Breite—even a great
For more information about subscribing or advertising – please contact us:
restaurant. You can learn all about these
info basellife.com and other swimming pools in and around
www.facebook.com/basellifemagazine Basel in our Get Going! section in this sum-
www.basellife.com mer issue of Basel Life Magazine.
BASEL LIFE MAGAZINE / BASEL FAMILY GmbH © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. It is our goal to provide valuable, timely information to our readers.
The opinions expressed in the articles in this magazine are those of the contributing authors and do not reflect those of other members of the editorial staff
and of any organizations or agencies distributing this magazine. Though we make every attempt to provide accurate information, we cannot be held respon-
sible if any event is cancelled, postponed, or modified. We encourage readers to contact the event organizers or their websites to obtain the most current
event information. Please note: No part of this periodical may be duplicated in any fashion, or redistributed in any written language, without permission
from the executive staff at Basel Family GmbH. If you have any questions, contact Basel Family GmbH staff at: info basellife.com.
photo credits: © basel tourism (cover), © stephen oliver (page 3) July / August 2017 3
Events in Basel: July/August 2017
factors of movement and space within the video. Vassiliev’s composi-
tions build bridges between the eye of the camera and the eye of the
spectator and allow us to perceive what we see on a physical level.
Under the title of “Last Next Winter,” three of his video works were
brought together in the GLOBUS Basel display window in June, and
four videos will be shown on the e-boards of the Congress Center Basel
until August 6.
http://videocitybs.ch
Migration—Moving the World
Until January 21, 2018
Human history is marked by migration. The phenomenon has shaped
the lives and values of people around the globe and informed the eco-
Magnet Basel—Granted. Tolerated. Rejected
nomic and political development of countries and nations throughout
Until October 10 the ages. But why do people migrate and what is set in motion by mi-
Migration is a key theme of the 21st century, leading to controversy gration? The exhibition at the Museum der Kulturen Basel opens the
around the world—who can enter, who can emigrate, who is wel- door to world history as well as current affairs, Switzerland included.
come, and who is unwanted. “Magnet Basel” is a series of five exhi- Objects slip into the role of migrants and come alive, offering a com-
bitions focusing on the topic of migration in the three-country re- pletely new perspective on issues we find ourselves confronted with
gion. The State Archives of Basel-Stadt house about 1 km in length every day.
of dossiers from the “Fremdenpolizei” (immigration authorities) of http://mkb.ch
the canton Basel-Stadt dating from 1917 to 1970. These present a
very diverse picture of the foreign population of the city of Basel and
their personal circumstances. In letters, petitions, police reports,
and submissions, the question is again and again: Who can stay,
who must go? The immigration authorities watched, produced re-
ports, requested, granted, tolerated, and dismissed. Initiated by the
State Archives of Basel-Stadt, selected dossiers are now being pre-
sented to the general public for the first time, supplemented by fur-
ther exhibits and illuminated in a current context. The life stories
and fates presented in the exhibition provide a detailed insight into
the city’s timelines. The materials, which also illustrate the mode of
operation of the immigration authorities, reveal the changing condi-
tions under which job seekers, refugees, and adventurers could be
accommodated—or rejected. The Museum für Wohnkultur will be
presenting this fascinating panorama of immigration in the Basel
region, which also provides a captivating look at the people’s every-
day lives.
If you visit the exhibit during the warm season, you can also take
advantage of the museum’s beautiful garden. For the fifth consecu-
Circus School Le Lido—I Love You, But…
tive year, you can enjoy a fuss-free picnic in this secluded oasis in July 1
the city center with a “Picknick über Mittag.” From Tuesday to Fri- Set up at Dreispitz, Station Circus features various circus acts through-
day, you can order a picnic basket by going online and clicking on out the year. Le Lido, the prestigious circus school from Toulouse, will
your choice of soup, sandwich, salad, desert, and/or drinks, which is be bringing their act to Basel as a part of their tour. Four jugglers, two
lovingly prepared for you by their partner so’up, delivered, and wait- handstand artists, several acrobats, two tight-rope dancers, and a Cyr
ing for you to enjoy in the museum gardens, either before or after wheel artist complete their training with the program “I Love You,
your visit to the current exhibit. But...” On this occasion, the trapeze duo OfNi, two graduates of the
www.hmb.ch/museum-wohnkultur.html circus school in Tilburg (NL), will also be showing their first joint short
solo-number “légère dispersion.” The shows will start at 19:30; tickets
cost CHF 30 for adults and CHF 20 for kids and students.
Videocity.bs www.stationcircus.ch
Until August 6
videocity.bs is presenting another Swiss premiere: the works of Yuri Zoo Night
Vassiliev, one of the most important contemporary Russian video art-
July 1
ists, which will be shown on the e-board of the Congress Center at
Messeplatz. Vassiliev’s central themes are the Russian winter and the Every summer, the Basel Zoo stays open late one night for the “Zolli-
color red. The protagonists in his videos are exposed to the rigors of Nacht.” They promise an exciting evening for the whole family to ob-
nature in existential ways, their exploits appearing devoid of purpose serve and learn about the animals, with specialists on hand and many
and timelessly transposed into the realm of universal human experi- stations set up to provide exciting information about the animals’ be-
ence. Although the videos were created independently and with a view havior, as well as tours and activities for the whole family. This year’s
to an interior art space, it will be exciting to experience them in the special theme is “Achtung Natur” (Beware of nature). The zoo bar with
context of videocity.bs. What challenges do the scale and the public culinary specialties and live music will round out the special program.
space place upon the showcased video? What influence does the bus- The Zoo Night runs from 17:00 until midnight, with a reduced entrance
tling life of the Messeplatz square have on our perception of this au- fee starting at 17:00.
tonomous art work? The surrounding hustle and bustle amplifies the www.zoobasel.ch
4 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com
Jugend Circus Basilisk
July 1–13
The Jugend Circus Basilisk is a circus school for young Basel acrobats
ages 7–17 who train several times per week. Each summer, they put on
an end-of-year show in which the students can demonstrate their tal-
ents. The new program this year will take the audience on a more than
2-hour artistic time travel with acts such as floor acrobatics, unicycle,
aerial numbers, trapeze, juggling, as well as small and large trampo-
lines. Don’t miss this 48th edition of the Jugend Circus Basilisk tour,
which will take place at the Rosentalanlage next to the Messeplatz;
entrance is free, but they request a nominal fee of CHF 10 per person
or CHF 30 per family to cover their expenses. So why not take the fam-
ily and support the efforts of Basel’s future circus stars?
www.circusbasilisk.ch
Bee Day at Tierpark Lange Erlen
July 1
The Bienenzüchterverein Basel (beekeeper’s society) is inviting the pub-
lic to Lange Erlen Tierpark from 14:00–16:00 to learn about bees and the
production of honey. In the Bienenhaus (bee house) in the Erlebnishof of
the park, you get to see at close range how the honeycomb is expertly
removed and spun to recover the honey. There will be lots of interesting
information about bees and the beekeeping profession, as well as fine
honeys to taste. Admission to the park and to this event is free.
www.erlen-verein.ch
Children’s Theater in Park im Grünen
Medieval Spectaculum
July 1 – August 13
Weil am Rhein, Germany
For the six weeks of school holidays, the children’s theater, Theater Arlec-
July 1 and 2
chino, is performing the story of the “Bremer Stadtmusikante” (The Musi-
If you are fascinated by the Middle Ages, this festival is for you! Medi- cians of Bremen) at the Park im Grünen. This play with music is based on
eval Spectaculum® is the largest traveling medieval culture festival in a fable from the Brothers Grimm’s collection. “You can find something
the world. They travel throughout Germany from mid-April to early Oc- better than death anywhere,” says the donkey, motivating his new
tober. This year, they will again set up their camp just across the border friends—dog, cat, and cock—to go with him to Bremen as city musicians.
in Weil am Rhein, Germany, on the first weekend in July. About 2,500 On their way, they discover a robbers’ house and, after they have driven
participants in up to 1,000 tents, booths, and installations will transport out the robbers, decide to stay there and start a new life. The play is meant
their guests into the imaginary world of the Middle Ages. This is a to be fun, stimulate smiles and laughter, and entertain children and adults
unique festival atmosphere with a fantastic and diverse entertainment alike. Theater Arlecchino recounts this fable in a unique and surprising
program and many archers, artisans, artists, craftsmen, jesters, jug- way, drawing parallels to our society without becoming too moral. This
glers, knights, maids, mercenaries, merchants, musicians, noble la- play with music and singing for the whole family will be presented daily in
dies, princes, scholars, servants, squires, traders, and many more per- the arena at Park im Grünen (Grün 80) at 15:00 and 17:00, except for the
formers in medieval garb and armor, taking guests back to the 13th Swiss National Day on August 1. Admission is free and no reservation is
century. There will be stage shows, music concerts, breath-taking required. The performance will last 50 minutes, without intermission, and
knight battles, fire shows, a huge medieval market, and much more. you are free to come and go as you please. Shows will be cancelled in case
For times, costs, and participants, go to their (German only) website. of bad weather; confirm by calling 061-331-6856 after 13:00.
www.spectaculum.de www.theater-arlecchino.ch
Children’s Holiday City
July 3 – August 4
Kinder Ferien Stadt (children’s holiday city) is a free children’s paradise
provided during the school holidays by Robi-Spiel-Aktionen at various
locations in town from 14:00–18:00 on Monday to Friday. During the
first week of the holidays, you will find them at Breitematte, during the
second and third week they will be at Kannenfeldpark, and during the
fourth and fifth week they will set up at Margarethenpark (closed on
August 1). As this wonderful offer is highly subsidized, there is no fee
and no registration required; children ages 3–14 can simply show up
and enjoy a wide range of activities, crafts, sports, workshops, and play
equipment. While the children are guided and helped through all ac-
tivities, younger kids cannot be dropped off like in a camp, and supervi-
sion is the parents’ responsibility. There will be a kiosk on site where
kids can buy drinks and food at family-friendly prices.
www.robi-spiel-aktionen.ch
photo credits: © hmb, daria kolacka (magnet basel); © mkb (migration); © medieval spectaculum; © jugend circus basilisk July / August 2017 5
Events in Basel: July/August 2017 (continued)
Zirkus Chnopf—Panik!
July 5–9
Set up at the Dreispitz, Station Circus features various circus acts
throughout the year. During this week, they present Zirkus Chnopf and
their new program, “Panik!” Everyone is ready, the circus band plays
their trumpets and trombones, the tension rises, the curtain goes ...
oops, the curtain does not go up! What is happening with the curtains?
In “Panik!,” the ensemble lustfully combats the horror and learns to fly.
At Zirkus Chnopf, youngsters are on stage with professionals to pres-
ent a piece of Nouveau Cirque for the whole family (for more info, visit
their website at www.chnopf.ch). All shows are at 19:30, except for
Sunday, July 9, when the show is at 18:00. There is no entrance fee, but
a hat will be passed around for donations.
www.stationcircus.ch
Blues Brunch walk from the festival grounds. This free event will run from 17:00–
July 8 and 22; August 12 and 26 03:00 on Friday, 11:00–03:00 on Saturday, and 11:00–18:00 on Sunday;
On the second and fourth Saturday check their website for a full schedule of events.
of each month, the Brasserie No. 2 www.bikerdaysbasel.ch
at Volkshaus Basel together with
Blues Basel is presenting a rich
Ettore Sottsass. Rebel and Poet
breakfast from Marc Arnold’s
kitchen, accompanied by the per- July 14 – September 24
fect mix of blues covers and own This year, the Italian designer Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007), who was
compositions. Musical accompa- one of the most influential yet unconventional personalities in 20th-
niment will be Coffee ‘n Blues on century design, would have celebrated his 100th birthday. He was re-
July 8, Paul J. Miles on July 22, the nowned for products such as the legendary “Valentine” typewriter
Rollin’ Fifties on August 12, and (1969) for Olivetti and as head of the creative collective Memphis, whose
the Luzern band Long Distance work revolutionized the realm of design in the 1980s. This exhibition at
Call on August 26. Breakfast starts the Schaudepot of the Vitra Design Museum, just across the border in
at 10:30 and reservations are rec- Weil am Rhein, Germany, highlights the multifaceted talents and ac-
ommended at 061-690-9310. tivities of a great designer who did not view form and function as con-
http://volkshaus-basel.ch straints, but rather as an opportunity to pose existential questions and
explore the fundamental nature of human existence.
www.design-museum.de
River Pirates
July 9 and 16; August 13 and 20
Kids’ Tram Riddle Fun
Are your kids fascinated by the world of pirates? Then perhaps this Sun-
July 19 and 26; August 2 and 9
day excursion would suit your family. Hop aboard the MS Baslerdybli at
Schifflände and go on a two-hour boat ride that includes a theater play The GGG Stadtbibliothek Basel (Basel public libraries) is once again
about a pirate adventure. Captain Arabella and her unique crew have presenting this fun hour-long tram ride for kids ages 7–12, called
found a new home on Kokos Island. Unfortunately, however, an assault by “Kinderrätselspass im Drämmli” (Fun on the tram with riddles for kids;
looters forces them to leave their paradise. The looters have stolen secret in German only). On this ride, kids will be given riddles to solve that will
and mysterious objects that in a race against time, Captain Arabella and test their observation skills. The participants will meet at 13:45 in the
her team must find and return to Kokos Island, otherwise it will sink into library Schmiedenhof (Im Schmiedenhof 10, Basel, 2. floor, Boys &
the sea. Following a turbulent boat ride, the pirate show will play out in Girls) and will return there after the tram journey at around 15:15–
the harbor, or on the threatened Kokos Island. The round trip on the MS 15.30. Because the number of places is limited, free tickets can be ob-
Baslerdybli ship, the pirate theater, syrup, and a small surprise are all tained in the library Schmiedenhof and with the Basler Ferienpass.
included in the price; cost is CHF 30 for adults, CHF 15 for kids ages 6–15, Parents are not supposed to join the tram ride.
and free for kids under age 6. There are two “Flusspiraten” (River Pirates) www.stadtbibliothekbasel.ch
boat excursions on each of the days, from 14:00–16:00 and from 16:00–
18:00. Book your tickets at 061-639-9500 or info@bpg.ch.
Basel Tattoo—Parade
www.flusspiraten.ch
July 22
The Basel Tattoo parade will once again take to the streets of Basel’s
Biker Days Basel inner city this summer. In addition to the top bands of the 2017 Basel
July 14–16 Tattoo, almost 40 guest formations from Switzerland and neighboring
Bikers Days is back for its second edition in Basel. For three days, there countries will take part, marching through the center of Basel, from
will be a bike expo, biker parade, test rides, food and drinks, fancy bar, 14:00–16:00. This spectacular event is free, wonderful, and crowded,
bands and shows, tattoos, market, and more at the Rheinhafen in Ba- with roughly 120,000 spectators attending! Note that because of the
sel. If you come by motorbike or U.S. car, you can ride directly to the construction at Mittlere Brücke, the parade this year will be limited to
festival area where there will be parking spaces for you. Otherwise, you Grossbasel. For more information on the route and the participating
can take a shuttle service from Schifflände to the festival area, or bus groups, see their website.
36 / tram 8 to the stop “Basel Kleinhüningen,” which is a 10-minute www.baseltattoo.ch/2015-06-30_BT/index.php/english
6 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com
Basel Tattoo—Shows
July 21–29
The Basel Tattoo, the world’s second-largest and one of the most spec-
tacular open-air tattoos, will again present a very special show. For
nine days, the area around Kaserne will be transformed into a stage for
drum corps from all corners of the world, including bands from royal
houses, that put on spectacular shows with drumming, original chore-
ography, lights, costumes, and colors. Audiences will be haunted by the
Scottish-Highland sounds of the Massed Pipes & Drums, moved by
world-famous catchy tunes, rocked by classics of pop and rock history,
and impressed by military-style music performed while the musicians
march in complicated patterns. This year’s edition of the Basel Tattoo
again promises to be a spectacular event with 12 bands from the United
Kingdom, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Swit-
zerland. There are a total of 10 shows at Kaserne during this year’s
festival, including 9 shows at 21:30, and 1 show at 17:30. The early show
on Saturday, July 22, is free for kids under age 10 and half price for kids
ages 10–16; adult tickets are CHF 49–89 (CHF 140 for VIP and CHF 190
for Skybox). Tickets for the night shows are CHF 69–119 (half price for
children up to age 9) and can be purchased through their online ticket
shop, via Ticketcorner, or at the Basel Tattoo Shop at Schneidergasse 27
in Basel. Note that discounted tickets for kids can only be purchased
directly through the Basel Tattoo Shop. But buy your tickets soon as
they sell out fast! For more information about the various bands and
the Tattoo in general, go to their website.
www.baseltattoo.ch
Jazz Concert at the Tinguely Museum drinks for purchase. Day tickets are CHF 59.50, night tickets are
July 28; August 25 CHF 29.50, and tickets for both day and night session are CHF 79.50;
they can be purchased through www.starticket.ch.
Under the heading Roche‘n’Jazz, top jazz performers are giving con-
certs in the space dedicated to the current exhibition at the Tinguely www.tension-festival.ch
Museum from 16:00–18:00 on the last Friday of every month, providing
a musical highlight and a point of focus. The concert on July 28 will Brunch on the Farm
feature Till Grünewalds “Phonosource”; the performers for the concert
August 1
on August 25 will be the Stephan Kurmann Strings. The concerts are
free with admission to the museum. On August 1, about 350 farms around Switzerland open their doors
from 9:00–13:00, inviting the public to come and enjoy a brunch con-
www.roche-n-jazz.ch
sisting of their fresh breads, milk, cheeses, meats, fruits, cereals, and
other fine products. You can also visit the farms, buy their fresh prod-
Basel Tattoo—Children’s Day ucts, and see first-hand just how much work goes into the making of
July 29 the farm-fresh goods. This is an event beloved by the Swiss, with over
150,000 visitors each year. Cost is about CHF 25–40 per person. To
From 14:00–15:30, children can come to the Tattoo arena at Kaserne make a reservation, go to their website and click on “Brunch-Suche,”
and meet some of the musicians from the Tattoo, learn about the music then select a farm in the canton of your choice. Places are limited and
and the shows, try their feet at a few of the dance routines, and try their reservations can be made by phone or by email directly to the farm of
hands at some of the instruments—including the bag pipes! There will your choice until July 30.
also be food and drink provided by the sponsors and small gifts. This
event was very popular last year, attracting over 1,000 kids. For more www.brunch.ch
information on this free event, see their website.
www.baseltattoo.ch/index.php/event/kindertag
Tension Festival
July 31
The Tension Festival with its thousands of visitors is the biggest elec-
tronic-music festival in northwestern Switzerland. For this indoor/out-
door event, famous international artists of this musical genre will per-
form at the Gartenbad St. Jakob, only a few meters from its previous
location at St. Jakobshalle. The lineup this year includes Richie Hawtin,
N’TO, Worakls, Nicole Moudaber, Deborah De Luca, Fritz Kalkbrenner,
Jan Blomqvist, Marek Hemmann, and Chris Liebing. The event starts at
14:00 and runs until about midnight, after which it moves inside and the
party continues at the clubs Das Viertel and Borderline (from about
23:00 onwards); minimum age is 18. There will be finger foods and
photo credits: © volkshaus basel (blues brunch); © bikerdaysbasel.ch; © basel tattoo; © schweizer bauernverband sbv (brunch on the farm) July / August 2017 7
Events in Basel: July/August 2017 (continued)
Swiss National Day Celebrations
Celebrations on the Rhein in Basel—July 31
In Basel, each year more than 120,000 people come into town on the
eve of the Swiss National Day to celebrate along the Rhein. They watch
the water-sports events and other spectacular highlights held on the
Rhein, visit the over 90 festival stands along the banks of the river, lis-
ten to music on various stages, and admire the spectacular fireworks
display at 23:00. These official fireworks will be launched from barges
on the Rhein, near Mittlere Brücke. Therefore, areas on or near the
bridge make for great viewing areas, but are also very crowded. After-
wards, the party continues on both sides of the river as well as on the
stretch between Schifflände and Marktplatz until about 02:00.
Celebrations in Neighboring Communities
Many of the smaller communities around Basel have their own Swiss
National Day celebrations, most on the day itself. The following is a
short list of what is happening. To get more detailed information about
the day’s events, check with your local Gemeinde (town offices) around
mid-July.
Where When What
Aesch August 1 Party tents with food and entertainment, speeches, and live music.
(Mühleplatz) Starting at 17:30
Arlesheim August 1 Party stands, speeches, live music, a bonfire, and a lampion parade.
(Badhof) Starting at 16:00
Binningen August 1 Party stands, speeches, music, a lampion parade, and fireworks.
(Sportplatz Spiegelfeld) Starting at 17:00
Bruderholz August 1 Traditional and modern music, dance groups, varied entertainment,
(Water tower) Starting at 18:00 a bonfire, and a big fireworks display at 22:15. This is the official celebration
for Basel-Stadt.
Laufen July 31 Party tents with food and entertainment, speeches, and live music.
(Rathausplatz) Starting at 18:00
Liestal August 1 Party stands, speeches, musical entertainment, a lampion parade, a bonfire,
(Chornschüre) Starting at 17:00 and fireworks.
Münchenstein August 1 Party stands, speeches, and musical entertainment.
(Sportplatz Au) Starting at 17:00
Oberwil August 1 Party stands, speeches, live entertainment, dance music, a lampion parade,
(Schulhaus Wehrlin) Starting at 18:00 and fireworks.
Rheinfelden August 1 Party stands, speeches, musical entertainment, alphorn music, and fire-
(Kurbrunnenanlage) Starting at 17:00 works.
Riehen August 1 An extensive program for children and families, with food and entertainment
(Sarasin Park) Starting at 18:00 from 19:00–22:00, the singing of the national anthem, fireworks at 22:30, and
a party and dance atmosphere until midnight.
Therwil July 31 Party stands, speeches, musical entertainment, games, and a lampion
(Bahnhofschulhaus) Starting at 18:00 parade.
Dragonboat Festival Basel
acts, including acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, high wire, and much more.
August 1 They now have over 200 members as well as a small orchestra. Shows
The Kraftwerkinsel near Birsfelden will be the location for this festival start at 20:00 on Friday; 18:15 on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday;
filled with dragonboat fun races, food, dance, workshops, and a raffle. and at 15:00 and 20:00 on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Entrance is
You can register a team or simply come to watch the races and join the free, although donations after the show are accepted. Visit their web-
festivities; the races will start at 10:30. site for more information about this special circus.
www.dragonboatfestivalbasel.ch www.qcb.ch
Quartier Circus Bruederholz Circus Monti
August 4–11 August 9–20
Every summer, the Quartier Circus Bruederholz presents their circus The Circus Monti is the pinnacle of an incomparable experience for
by kids for kids. This circus started over 30 years ago, with three broth- many circus spectators: modern and innovative, but still very charm-
ers who spent the summer in their garden in Bruderholz, putting to- ing. They will be celebrating their 33rd year with a new production. The
gether a small circus act to present to their friends. It has since devel- two French Canadians Marie-Josée Gauthier and Sylvain Lafortune are
oped into a large-scale circus where kids ages 7–18 can showcase their once again responsible for the conceptualization and direction of this
8 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.com
year’s Circus Monti production, which is about the “Dreambox”—a big (tram 16 direction Bruderholz, stop “Jakobsberg”) and then a short
mysterious box filled with wishes and dreams, friendship and trust, be- walk through the park. Opening hours are 12:00–21:00 on Friday,
ing and striving. Check out their official website and click on “Tournée 10:00–19:00 on Saturday, and 10:00–17:00 on Sunday. Entrance is
2017/ Tournéeplan” to get a full listing of locations and show times. CHF 8, free for kids up to age 16.
www.circus-monti.ch www.authentica.ch/basel/authentica.html
Fondation Beyeler’s Summerfest Tag der Stadttore (Day of City Gates)
August 12 August 19
The Fondation Beyeler is inviting everyone for their summer festival on Basel, which was once a fortified city, still retains three of its original
this Saturday from 10:00–22:00. The program includes workshops for city gates: the Spalentor, St. Johanns-Tor, and St. Alban-Tor. From
adults, teens, and kids, as well as short tours of the Wolfgang Tillman 10:00–17:00, these city gates, as well as the remaining Pulverturm
exhibit in many different languages. The event is presented in collabo- (powder tower) by the Waisenhaus (orphanage) near the Wettstein-
ration with the Cultural Office of Riehen and costs CHF 10 for adults; brücke are open to the public. Several clubs and Fasnacht cliques pro-
free for kids, teens, and young adults up to age 25. No registration is vide food, entertainment, period music, and loads of information about
required. There will also be a free concert with the well-known band the history and function of the towers on this day. There will also be
Kadebostany in Berower Park. guided tours of the towers; entrance is free.
www.beyeler.com www.stadttorebasel.ch
Oldtimer Car Parade
August 23
Are you a fan of classic oldtimer and vintage cars? Then be sure not to
miss “RAID,” the 21st Concours D’Élégance (elegance competition).
For the lovers of old cars, this is a feast for the eyes that will start in the
circular courtyard of the Messe Basel, beginning at 13:30. Around
15:00, the parade heads to the center of town, with an exhibition of the
cars on Freie Strasse. For two hours, you can look at and admire the
cars up close as well as meet their owners, who will be more than
happy to talk about their treasures. Around 17:15, the cars will styl-
ishly be led by modern pace cars down the red carpet for a slow parade
through Marktplatz, where they will be scrutinized by a panel of judges.
St. Johann Neighborhood Flea Market
The Concours d’Élégance will end at 18:00, when the cars will head
August 12
back to the circular courtyard of the Messe Basel, where the prizes will
From 10:00–17:00, the neighborhood of St. Johann will be holding a be handed out at 18:30.
flea market where residents will be offering items for sale. On the same
www.raid.ch
day, the Jukibu library, which is also located in that neighborhood, will
be hosting an open house with a book sale, so why not stroll over—you
never know where you will find some treasures!
www.jukibu.ch
Authentica 17
August 18–20
Authentica is a specialty fair dedicated to high-quality crafts and foods
created by small-business producers with skill and dedication. The or-
ganization Authentica Schweiz strives to be a platform for individual
producers who create, produce, and market their products themselves.
At the fair, you can find a wide range of such products, from custom-
made bicycles and skis, hand-made furniture, clothing, pottery, or pa-
per to artisan foods and drinks (eg, cheeses, coffees, dressings, sau-
sages, seeds, spices, syrups, teas, vinegars, wines, and much more).
The fair takes place over three days at the Filter 4 hall on Reservoir-
strasse in the Bruderholz area. You can reach them by public transport
Kids’ Flea Market at Margarethen
August 23
Kunsti Margarethen (the location of the ice rink in the winter months)
will be the site of a giant flea market hosted by Robi-Spiel-Aktionen
from 13:30–17:00. This flea market is dedicated to the selling of kids’
second-hand clothes, books, games, videos, toys, sports equipment,
and so on. You can go there to pick up some needed items or to sell
your no-longer-needed items. Stand fee is CHF 8 (2 m2), CHF 12 (3 m2),
or CHF 16 (4 m2). There is no need to pre-register; simply show up,
spread your wares, and someone will come by to collect your stand fee;
the flea market will take place in any weather.
www.robi-spiel-aktionen.ch
photo credits: © staatskanzlei basel-stadt (swiss national day); © matthias mangold (fondation beyeler summerfest); © simon von gunten (authentica); © organisation raid (oldtimer car parade) July / August 2017 9
Events in Basel: July/August 2017 (continued)
ing grain on stone or making bread over fire; see how clothing and
other goods were made; and even dress like ancient Romans. Many
activities are geared especially towards kids, including pony rides and
coin minting, and they can spend time in the Roman salon to get their
hair and make-up done like in Roman times. It is a fun and educational
weekend filled with great hands-on learning opportunities for people of
all ages.
Getting There: The festival is quite crowded and parking is scarce, so
taking public transport is highly recommended. You can reach Augusta
Raurica from Basel by train (take the S1 from the SBB, direction Frick/
Laufenburg to Kaiseraugst), and there will be a free shuttle bus service
between the Kaiseraugst train station and the festival. Augusta Raurica
can also be reached by bus 81 from Aeschenplatz, direction Liestal/
Reigoldswil, to Augst (www.aagl.ch). It is a 10-minute walk from the
bus stop, just follow the crowd!
Römerfest 2017 Tickets: You can purchase 1-day or 2-day tickets; 1-day tickets are
August 26–27 CHF 18 for adults, CHF 13 for kids ages 6–17, or CHF 55 for the whole
family (2 adults and up to 3 children); 2-day tickets are CHF 30 for
Every year, on the last weekend of August, the ancient Roman town of adults, CHF 20 for kids, and CHF 100 for the whole family. Tickets can
Augusta Raurica comes to life for tens of thousands of visitors to expe- be purchased at the gate or in advance at www.ticketcorner.ch.
rience. From 10:00–18:00 on Saturday and 10:00–17:00 on Sunday,
more than 700 actors will participate in the reenactment of gladiator Visit their German-only website to get more information about this won-
combats and wagon races or perform as dancers, peddlers, musicians, derful Roman festival weekend and to download the flyer with the full
and craftsmen of all kinds. Families can watch the many shows and weekend program, which will be available from the beginning of July.
events; participate in as many as 30 different activities, including grind- www.roemerfest.ch
Beer Market itself will host a great children’s program, including shows, arts and
August 25 and 26 craft activities, and a terrific slide that runs from the top of the church
to the bottom. This wonderful street festival takes place Friday from
Beer lovers, mark your calendar! Basel will be hosting its fifth annual
18:00–03:00, Saturday from 11:00–03:00, and Sunday from 11:00–18:00.
Biermarkt, which will be held over the course of two days. From 16:00–
23:00 on Friday and Saturday, beer lovers can taste numerous beers in www.klosterbergfest.ch
a variety of different styles, including dark, albino, whisky ale, pale ale,
smoked, strong, wheat, and more. This Basler beer market offers small
Festtage Alte Musik 2017
regional breweries a platform for presenting their beers, but there will
also be beers from selected breweries in Switzerland and neighboring August 25 – September 1
countries. Whatever your fancy, there will be pints (or actually liters) for The Festtage Alte Musik Basel 2017 (Days to celebrate old music) con-
every taste. Note, however, that not all breweries will be present on both tinue the experience of the last few years through a combination of
days! A number of food stands and an attractive beer-garden setting continuity and innovation. Both discerning connoisseurs and curious,
also help to make this an enjoyable outing with friends. Located at Vo- young, and multicultural listeners can enjoy this unforgettable festival
gesenplatz near the Bahnhof St. Johann, the beer market can easily be for old music. On seven summer nights, in magnificent locations around
reached by public transport with trams number 1, 2, 6, 8, 14, 16, and 21. Basel, old music will be offered at the highest level, not just from a
www.baslerbiermarkt.ch single historical epoch, but in relation to a historically transcending
and guiding idea—that music is a journey. Indeed, music for centuries
has been regarded as the driving force of the largest and smallest hu-
man journeys, from the intimate worlds of dreams and fantasies to the
transcendence of the longest journeys into the beyond, from the mys-
terious prophecies of the Middle Ages to the splendor of the baroque
over- and underworld. Accordingly, the concerts have themes such as
prophecy, dream, pain, distance, magic, irony, splendor, or heroism.
You can purchase tickets for the individual concerts as well as a festival
pass for seven evening concerts and one afternoon concert; this pass is
transferable. Visit their website for a complete list of concerts and lo-
cations; tickets can be purchased through Bider & Tanner in person at
Aeschenvorstandt 2, by telephone at 061-206-9996, by email at ticket@
biderundtanner.ch, or online at www.biderundtanner.ch.
www.festtage-basel.ch
Family Concert
Klosterbergfest August 26 and 27
August 25–27 Moved from the originally planned date of May 13 and 14, the last con-
This annual festival, now in its 40th year, helps raise money and aware- cert in the 2016/2017 Musikschule Basel’s family concert series will be
ness for the less fortunate children of Brazil. Many tents and stages the presentation of the audio book for children “Der Soli, das Deo, und
offer a variety of ethnic foods, goods, and music. The festival takes place die Gloria,” with accompanying CD inauguration and performances.
along the Klosterberg, up to Elisabethen Kirche (church). The church Above the organ, gold letters state “Soli Deo Gloria.” To Lena, Soli is the
10 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.commusic teacher Solenthaler, Deo is the deodorant in her mother’s bath-
room cabinet, and Gloria is the Spanish lady who often takes care of her
and cooks with her. The secret behind “Soli Deo Gloria” slowly comes to
light when her friend Steve wants to hear something from the composer
with the “water” name. In funny and profound everyday scenes and con-
versations, the wealth of the music and the history of Johann Sebastian
(Bach), who left his mark in people’s hearts and minds many centuries
ago, slowly unfolds in Lena. She not only finds the “Soli Deo Gloria,” but
also a new appreciation of her full first name with the many ‘A’s—Anna
Magdalena. This special story will be narrated by Philipp Roth and ac-
companied by Nicoleta Paraschivescu on organ. The concert on Satur-
day, August 26, will take place at 17:00 at the Kirche St. Theodor (The-
odorskirchplatz 5, Basel), and the concert on Sunday, August 27, will
take place at 17:00 at the Kirche St. Franziskus (Äussere Baselstrasse
168, 4125 Riehen). Entrance is free for kids and members of the Musik
Akademie, otherwise CHF 15 for adults, CHF 5 with Familienpass.
www.musikschule-basel.ch Gässli Film Festival
August 31 – September 3
Reading Festival in Kannenfeldpark The Gässli Film Festival, so named because of its location in Ger-
August 27 bergässlein, is a nonprofit event, organized for young filmmakers in the
Basel region. The aim is to inspire young people to make films and to
The beautiful Kannenfeldpark will be the location for this year’s Vor-
give the film talents of tomorrow an opportunity to present their works
lesefest (reading festival), where hundreds of reading enthusiasts of all
to a wider audience. To this end, festival organizers invite an interna-
ages and their parents will gather to enjoy stories, storytelling, and
tionally renowned filmmaker to Basel to show his debut film and give
books. This event, which is organized by the Education Department
the young people tips, tricks, and inspiration for their future careers in
Basel-Stadt, is all about promoting reading and language skills through
filmmaking. There will be monetary and other prizes awarded to the
reading and storytelling. The park will be set up with eight yurts, each
best film of the festival, the best of Switzerland, the best music video,
with different readers—local celebrities, authors, librarians, and mem-
as well as a social-media audience prize and a youth prize. To learn
bers of reading clubs. There will be 30-minute reading blocks, and kids
more about the project, their success stories, how to participate, how
can switch yurts between readings. There will also be a yurt where kids
to get there, or to just attend, visit their website.
can do crafts under supervision. The JUKIBU staff will be telling stories
in various languages in one of the yurts at the park from 11:00–17:00. www.baselfilmfestival.ch
The event runs from 10:00–17:00 and will take place rain or shine.
www.ed.bs.ch
Flohmarkt auf dem Dach (Flea Market on the Roof)
August 27
This flea market and collectors’ fair is the largest in northwest Switzer-
land, with about 200 stands and 10,000 visitors. It will be held on the Magical
roof of the Interio in Pratteln from 8:30–16:00. The venue is completely
covered, so it is great in any weather. Here you can find agriculture, Cafe
antiques, appliances, arts and crafts, bicycles, camping, clothes, coins,
collectibles, electronics, games, garden, household, jewelry, motorcy-
New ! Play Cafe in Basel
cle clothing, musical instruments, sports, stamps, tools, watches, and
so much more.
www.flohmarktaufdemdach.ch Unveil the magic...
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Icons by freepik
Guided tours in Basel. Max Kämpf Platz 2
tangentenweg
Experience history first-hand. 4058 Basel get a
Riehenring
erlenmattstr.
fRee Coffee
Mon > sat
with your
8.00 am > 5.30 pm swiss
Intern. first cupcake
school
For further information or booking www.magicalcafe.ch str
. > subscribe on
en
please go to www.basel.com/guidedtours. or join us on erl www.magicalcafe.ch
Musical theater
photo credits: © adrian jost (römerfest); © verein klosterbergfest; © vfbbb (gässli film festival) July / August 2017 11Fun Outings: Beyond Basel
under age 12 can enter for € 1.00, and parking costs an additional € 2.00.
Note: If you plan on buying some wine, keep your duty-free limits in mind:
Any person age 18 and older is entitled to import 5 liters of alcoholic bever-
ages with less than 18% alcohol by volume plus 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
with more than 18% alcohol by volume per day into Switzerland. If you wish
to bring more than your allowance into Switzerland, you may do so by declar-
ing the amount and paying a duty of CHF 2 per liter (under 18%) or CHF 15
per liter (above 18%) for the total amount, not just the amount over the limit.
www.foire-colmar.com
Le Corso Fleuri (Flower Parade)
Sélestat, France
The Underground Lake of St. Léonard
August 12 and 13
St. Léonard, VS
The Alsatian town
The Rhone valley between Sierre and Sion in the canton of Valais is de-
of Sélestat cele-
fined by its viticulture, with vineyards on every square meter of its
brates the colorful
southern slopes, and orchards in the valleys. When admiring these
beauty of flowers in
beautiful vistas, it is hard to imagine that Europe’s largest subterra-
a creative festival
nean lake lies beneath this interesting landscape. The spectacular and
atmosphere each
unusual St. Léonard underground lake is 300 m long, 20 m wide, and
August with Le Cor-
10 m deep. This watery underworld is considered to be a place of special
so Fleuri—a parade,
power, which has been accessible to tourists since 1949. In the water
festival, and party,
grotto, which is easily reached by guided boats, about 80,000 visitors
all around the
each year learn about the history of the cave and its geology with the
theme of flowers.
various types of stone glittering at a height of 10 meters, their shapes
For the 88th year,
reflected on the 6,000 m2 surface of the lake. Trout swim in the clear
Sélestat, as well as
water and the fungus gnat, the only species that is actually native to
the inhabitants of neighboring communities, meet for a parade of flow-
this subterranean world, hangs its larvae upside down on the walls of
er-laden floats and a host of other entertainment and activities. This
the cave. Guided tours of this unusual and mysterious site last over half
year’s theme is “Au gré des flots” (With the waves). There will be floats
an hour and are in German, French, and English, leaving every 20–40
decorated with thousands of colorful dahlias in an aquatic theme—mer-
minutes between 9:00–17:30 (no advanced booking necessary). The
maids, fish, polar bears, sea lions, and boats will certainly put you in a
temperature of the cave is always a heavenly 15°C, making it a wonder-
maritime spirit. The festivities will start on Saturday in the center of
fully cool excursion on a hot summer day. The underground lake can be
town at 16:00, and the day parade will start at 18:00. This will be fol-
reached in about 2.5 hours from Basel; entrance costs CHF 10 for
lowed by evening heavy-metal concerts, the night parade at 22:00, and
adults, CHF 6 for children ages 5–15, and free for kids under age 5. For
a grand fireworks display at midnight. The festivities continue on Sun-
an unforgettable outing, listen to a music concert played on a boat
day with many activities in the streets of town, the exhibition of the 12
floating on the underground lake—the magical lighting and the one-of-
flowered floats, a wine fair, a market filled with local delicacies, enter-
a-kind accoustics reflecting off of the cave walls and water surface are
tainment, and evening concerts of world pop (19:30) and reggae (21:00)
incomparable. Visit their website for a list of their upcoming concerts
music at Square Ehm. The town of Sélestat is a little over an hour from
and events; the next concerts are on July 28 and August 9.
Basel and can be reached by car and by train.
www.lac-souterrain.com
www.selestat.fr/se-divertir-a-selestat/corso-fleuri/
le-corso-fleuri-2017.html
La Foire des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Fair)
Colmar, France Children’s Holiday on the Farm
July 27 – August 6 Agrotourismus Schweiz is an association of 320 Swiss farms that pro-
“La Foire,” as it is affectionately known, is the highlight of French sum- motes agricultural tourism on their farms for everyone to enjoy. Several
mer festivals and takes place in the city of Colmar for the 70th year. The of these farms offer children the opportunity to take a holiday on the
fair started out as a celebration and promotion of agriculture in Alsace, farm without their parents! During the summer, while their parents are
featuring wines, local delicacies, and even agricultural products and ma- at work or take a vacation of their own, children are integrated into ev-
chinery. Its popularity has grown so much over the years, attracting over eryday life on the farm by experienced host families and their children.
250,000 visitors each August, that it is now housed at the Parc des Expo- Kids may help milk the cows, collect the eggs laid by the hens, or feed
sitions and features over 350 exhibitors over a period of 11 days. The star the pigs. Visit their website and view a description of the different farms,
of the show is of course the wine, with over 1,500 different wines to sam- their special features and offerings for their young guests, and book
ple from the best wineries and grape varieties that the region has to of- directly with the farmers by email or phone. The price includes over-
fer. There is also plenty of entertainment, from dance shows and cooking night accommodation, normally in dormitories, and full board. Your
shows with top chefs to comedy shows, children’s animation, and of children will not forget these holidays for a long time! For children who
course fabulous acts in “la Coquille,” the on-site Hollywood Bowl-style require special assistance, the corresponding conditions must be agreed
theater that seats 10,000. There will be different live acts every night, on beforehand with the hosts. You can also request a free Agrotouris-
including a triple-header concert featuring Status Quo, Michael Schen- mus Schweiz catalog online for a list of the different types of farms and
ker, and Uriah Heep on July 28, and Sting on July 31. The Foire des Vins accommodations to help you plan your next family Swiss vacation at
is open daily from 11:30–01:00 (with some exceptions); entry is free until www.agrotourismus.ch/en/service/brochures/catalogue-order.
13:00, € 4.50 from 13:00–17:00, and € 7.00 after 17:00 (note that on Sun- www.agrotourismus.ch/en/kids-holidays-active-farm-
days, entrance is € 4.50 from 11:00–17:00 and € 7.00 after 17:00). Kids experiences/childrens-holidays-on-the-farm/
12 Basel Life Magazine / www.basellife.comMarkets and Fairs
Europa Park
Rust, Germany
If going to an amusement park is on your family’s wish list each sum-
mer, then a visit to Europa Park is a must! Spanning over 95 acres,
Europa Park is a huge amusement park set on beautiful grounds pro-
fessionally landscaped with amazing flowers and foliage with over 100
different attractions and shows, camping resort, five 4-star theme ho-
tels, and dozens of restaurants, cafés, bars, and snack bars to ensure
great fun suitable for everyone. The park is divided into 15 different
European country themes, each with many rides, including rollercoast-
ers, water rides, virtual reality simulators, fantasy worlds, ghost castle,
adult haunted houses, bumper cars, paddle boats, an old-fashioned Europa Park is located in Rust, Germany, about 75 minutes from Basel
steam train, and a host of other rides for everyone from the very young by car; take the A5 motorway northbound (direction Frankfurt), exit
visitors to the dare-devils and thrill seekers at heart. The park also of- “Rust” (57b), and follow the signs. There is plenty of parking (€ 6), but it
fers 23 hours of shows daily, including puppet, dance, acrobatic, and is recommended to go early to get a parking spot nearer to the entrance.
music shows; a 4-D cinema; parades; a castle show; fashion shows; You can also reach Europa Park by train by taking Deutsche Bahn (Ger-
and the new film highlight, “The Secrets of Gravity—from Europe to man railway from the Badischer Bahnhof) to Freiburg im Breisgau and
Space,” on the world’s largest 360° cinema in the Dome of Dreams. The then switching onto a local train to “Ringsheim,” the official stop of Eu-
park is also equipped with a monorail for a relaxed view of the exquisite ropa Park, from where you can catch the 7231 bus service to the Europa
grounds, an adventure playground for the little ones who need to blow Park entrance. If you are staying at a Europa Park hotel, you can take a
off steam, a water playground to cool down on a hot day, as well as a lot hotel shuttle bus (€ 15 for up to 8 people) from the “Ringsheim” station
of indoor attractions for those bad-weather days. to the hotel entrance (book minimum 72 hours in advance). In the sum-
The newest attraction this year at Europa Park is Volaterium—the big- mer months, day passes to Europa Park costs € 47 for adults, € 40.50
gest single investment made on an attraction in the history of Europa for kids ages 4–11, free for kids under age 4, and free for children under
Park thus far! Equipped with a 120-meter high silk screen, wind, water, age 12 on their birthday (with proof). If you take the train, they also have
and 3-D movement, you can truly get the sensation of flying like never Europa Park combi-tickets available from Deutsche Bahn, which in-
before over Europe’s most incredible landscapes and notable cities. It clude admission to the park for up to 5 people. If you want to experience
promises to be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Also the park over several days, consider one of the attractive overnight
new this year is the MONACO exhibition in the Mercedes-Benz Hall. packages for families when you stay at one of the Europa Park hotels.
Dedicated to one of the most prestigious car races in the world, the Check out their German, English, French, Dutch, and Italian website to
Monaco Grand Prix, the exhibit put on by Mercedes to celebrate their start planning your unforgettable experience for the whole family.
third double World Championship in a row, is a fascinating tribute to the www.europapark.de
human “need for speed.” Visitors of all ages can experience the electric
and glamorous atmosphere along the racetrack in Monaco. Enormous
pictures of historic facades provide the backdrop to the real stars of the Other Amusement Parks
show, including a Formula 1 race car, safety car, and many more exclu- Europe is home to numerous great amusement parks, the biggest one
sive show cars. A visit to the MONACO exhibit is certainly a perfect in proximity to Basel being Europa Park. There are, however, several
warm-up for a ride on one of Europa Park’s most notable rollercoast- smaller parks within a comfortable driving distance from Basel, as well
ers, like the Silver Star that can be seen from kilometers away, the Blue as some larger ones that would be best to visit when you have two or
Fire Megacoaster, the Wodan timber coaster, the Poseidon Water Roll- more days. The table below provides a brief list of some of these fun
ercoaster, the Swiss Bob Run, Euro-Mir, Eurosat, and the Pegasus parks. Note that largest amusement park in Europe, Disneyland Paris,
YoungStar Coaster. is not included in this list due to its considerable distance from Basel.
Amusement Park Location Brief Description
Steinwasen Park Oberried, Germany
Located in the beautiful Black Forest region, Steinwasen Park hosts a number of rides, two
www.steinwasen- (60 min from Basel) 800 meter-long toboggan runs, an indoor toboggan track, a small roller coaster, an animal park,
park.de a 218 meter-long suspended bridge that offers a magnificent view of the region, and much more.
Conny Land Lipperswil, Switzerland Located in canton Thurgau, this amusement park is home to several rides, an indoor play
www.connyland.ch (1 hour 45 min from Basel) park, a jungle adventure, a 5-D simulator, a water play area, mini cars, a giant slide, bumper
cars, a parrot show, a sea lion pool, and much more.
Holiday Park Pfalz, Germany This park has a number of rides for kids, as well as a free-fall tower, Sky Scream, and the
www.holidaypark.de (2 hours 30 min from Basel) Geforce rollercoaster for the more adventurous riders. With mini-cars, an adventure-beach
playground, and water rides, this park is a nice day outing for the whole family.
Happyland Grange-Sierre, This park is newly opened this year and is the largest amusement park in Switzerland.
www.happyland.ch Switzerland Equipped with some rides, go-karts, electric boats, a giant slide, adventure park, and a river
(2 hours 45 min from Basel) splash, it is ideal for young families. Happyland is located near the underground lake of St.
Léonard (see left page) and could be combined for a great day or weekend family trip.
Legoland Günzburg, Germany Located in Bavaria, Legoland is designed to ensure that heroes of all ages will find much to
www.legoland.de (3 hours 15 min from Basel) explore and enjoy with 55 attractions in the 9 worlds of adventure and thousands of models
made from 56 million LEGO® bricks. The centerpiece of the park is “miniland,” where famous
European towns and landscapes have been recreated from over 25 million LEGO® bricks,
on a scale of 1:20, that can all be moved at the touch of a button—accompanied by cool back-
ground noises. They also offer attractive overnight packages for families.
Playmobil Funpark Zirndorf, Germany Here kids’ Playmobil fantasies come to life in their larger-than-life–size play areas, including
www.playmobil- (4 hours from Basel) a knight’s fort, dinosaur park, tree house, stone bridge, pirate ship, farm, Noah’s ark, police
funpark.de station with Go-Kart course, stone quarry, and wild, wild, West, all of which are riddled with
many active play areas and adventures. Families can stay at the Playmobil-Hotel on site for a
multi-day visit.
photo credits: © lac souterrain (underwater lake); © ville de sélestat (flower parade); © europa-park July / August 2017 13You can also read
