car hire Basel

Switzerland's third-largest city, Basel lies on the Rhine River at the intersection of the Swiss, French, and German borders. Initially developed as a Roman fort in 374, Basel became a member of the Swiss Confederation in 1501, becoming a predominantly Protestant region. When the Reformation set in around 1529, Basel developed a reputation as a refuge for people fleeing religious prosecution. Residents of France, Holland, and Italy all came to Basel looking for tolerance. Around this time, Basel cultivated a reputation as a leading cultural nerve centre, and it was a vital contributor to a fast-growing publishing industry. The painter Holbein the Younger and the philosopher Nietzsche were just two of the cultural heavyweights to call Basel home. These days, Basel remains a major presence in the art world, and its thriving chemical and pharmaceutical industry also provide a solid economic foundation.

Basel's prominence as an artistic centre is borne out in its excellent selection of galleries. An awesome private collection turned public museum, Foundation Beyeler is home to impressive works by the likes of Seurat, Ernst, Braque, Degas, Warhol, Calder, and Pollock – to name just a few. The Fine Arts Museum (Kunstmuseum) is the oldest gallery in Switzerland, and it houses an imposing collection of artists ranging from modern masters to old-guard legends. You enter the gallery through a beautiful courtyard dotted with Calders and Rodins, and once in the gallery proper you can feast your eyes on pieces by Klee, Picasso, and van Gogh, not to mention a comprehensive collection of local stars like Holbein and Konrad Witz.

The Three Countries' Corner (Dreiländereck) is somewhat of a novelty attraction for those on holiday in Basel. The swatch of land sticks out into the Rhine, and by walking a few feet past a pylon marker you can step "cross-country" into Germany and then France – without a passport! If you're looking to take more than a few steps into a neighbouring country, you may want to drive your hire car (pick-up is easy at EuroAirport) into France and the region of Alsace. This French region is actually quite German in character, and its wines are internationally respected, particularly its trademark dry Rieslings. Beer is big here too. Drop in at breweries such as Kronenbourg in and around Strasbourg.