Editing Basel (section)

== Culture ==

=== Main sights ===
The red sandstone [[Basel Minster|Münster]], one of the foremost late-Romanesque/early Gothic buildings in the Upper Rhine, was badly damaged in the great earthquake of 1356, rebuilt in the 14th and 15th century, extensively reconstructed in the mid-19th century and further restored in the late 20th century.<ref name="20th">{{Cite web |title=Basel Münster website – Architecture 20th century |url=http://www.baslermuenster.ch/sub_architektur_jh_20.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912042615/http://www.baslermuenster.ch/sub_architektur_jh_20.html |archive-date=12 September 2012 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.baslermuenster.ch}}</ref> A memorial to [[Desiderius Erasmus|Erasmus]] lies inside the Münster. The City Hall from the 16th century is located on the Market Square and is decorated with fine murals on the outer walls and on the walls of the inner court.
[[File:Basel 2012-08 Mattes 1 (209).JPG|thumb|Tinguely's Carnival Fountain (''Fasnachtsbrunnen'')]]

Basel is also host to an array of buildings by internationally renowned architects. These include the [[Beyeler Foundation]] by [[Renzo Piano]], or the [[Vitra (furniture)|Vitra]] complex in nearby Weil am Rhein, composed of buildings by architects such as [[Zaha Hadid]] (fire station), [[Frank Gehry]] ([[Vitra Design Museum|Design Museum]]), [[Álvaro Siza Vieira]] (factory building), and [[Tadao Ando]] (conference centre). Basel also features buildings by [[Mario Botta]] (Jean Tinguely Museum and Bank of International settlements) and [[Herzog & de Meuron]] (whose architectural practice is in Basel, and who are best known as the architects of [[Tate Modern]] in London and the [[Beijing National Stadium|Bird's Nest]] in Beijing, the Olympia stadium, which was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics). The city received the [[Wakker Prize]] in 1996.

==== Heritage sites ====
Basel features a great number of [[Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance|heritage sites of national significance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000111.DownloadFile.tmp/bs.pdf |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte:Basel-Stadt |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=de |access-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928135920/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000111.DownloadFile.tmp/bs.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011  }}</ref>

These include the entire Old Town of Basel as well as the following buildings and collections: <!-- updated to 2009 listing -->
[[File:Basel Elisabethenkirche innen.jpg|thumb|Elisabethenkirche (inside)]]

;Churches and monasteries :[[Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic]] ''Prediger Kirche'' (church), ''Bischofshof'' with [[Collegiate church]] at Rittergasse 1, ''Domhof'' at Münsterplatz 10–12, former [[Carthusian]] House of St Margarethental, [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Church of St Antonius, ''Lohnhof'' (former [[Augustinians]] Collegiate Church), Mission 21, Archive of the ''Evangelisches Missionswerk Basel'', [[Basel Münster|Münster of Basel]] (cathedral), [[Swiss Reformed Church|Reformed]] ''[[Elisabethenkirche, Basel|Elisabethenkirche]]'' (church), Reformed ''Johanneskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Leonhardskirche'' (church, former [[Augustinians]] Abbey), Reformed ''Martinskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Pauluskirche'' (church), Reformed ''Peterskirche'' (church), Reformed ''St. Albankirche'' (church) with cloister and cemetery, Reformed ''Theodorskirche'' (church), Synagoge at Eulerstrasse 2

;Secular buildings:
[[File:Wildtsches Haus petersplatz.JPG|thumb|left|''Wildt'sches Haus'', Petersplatz]]
''Badischer Bahnhof'' (German Baden's railway station) with fountain, [[Bank for International Settlements]], ''Blaues Haus (Reichensteinerhof)'' at Rheinsprung 16, ''Bruderholzschule'' (school house) at Fritz-Hauser-Strasse 20, ''Brunschwiler Haus'' at Hebelstrasse 15, ''[[Basel SBB railway station|Bahnhof Basel SBB]]'' (Swiss railway station), ''Bürgerspital'' (hospital), ''Café Spitz (Merianflügel)'', ''Coop Schweiz'' company's central archive, Depot of the ''Archäologischen Bodenforschung des Kanton Basel-Stadt'', former Gallizian Paper Mill and [[Basel Paper Mill|Swiss Museum of Paper]], former ''Klingental-Kaserne'' (casern) with ''Klingentaler Kirche'' (church), ''Fasnachtsbrunnen'' (fountain), ''Feuerschützenhaus'' (guild house of the riflemen) at Schützenmattstrasse 56, ''Fischmarktbrunnen'' (fountain), ''Geltenzunft'' at Marktplatz 13, ''Gymnasium am Kohlenberg (St Leonhard)'' (school), ''Hauptpost'' (main post office), ''Haus zum Raben'' at Aeschenvorstadt 15, ''Hohenfirstenhof'' at Rittergasse 19, ''Holsteinerhof'' at Hebelstrasse 30, [[Markgräflerhof]] a former palace of the margraves of [[Margraviate of Baden|Baden-Durlach]], ''Mittlere Rhein Brücke'' (Central Rhine Bridge), ''Stadtcasino'' (music hall) at Steinenberg 14, ''Ramsteinerhof'' at Rittergasse 7 and 9, [[Seat of local government|Rathaus]] (town hall), ''Rundhof'' building of the ''Schweizerischen Mustermesse'', ''Safranzunft'' at Gerbergasse 11, ''Sandgrube'' at Riehenstrasse 154, ''Schlösschen'' (Manor house) Gundeldingen, ''Schönes Haus'' and ''Schöner Hof'' at Nadelberg 6, ''Wasgenring'' school house, ''Seidenhof'' with painting of Rudolf von Habsburg, ''Spalenhof'' at Spalenberg 12, ''Spiesshof'' at Heuberg 7, city walls, Townhouse (former post office) at Stadthausgasse 13 / Totengässlein 6, ''Weisses Haus'' at Martinsgasse 3, ''Wildt'sches Haus'' at Petersplatz 13, ''Haus zum Neuen Singer'' at Speiserstrasse 98, ''Wolfgottesacker'' at Münchensteinerstrasse 99, ''Zerkindenhof'' at Nadelberg 10.

;Archaeological sites: The Celtic Settlement at ''Gasfabrik'', ''Münsterhügel'' and ''Altstadt'' (historical city, late [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] and medieval settlement).

;Museums, archives and collections: Basel calls itself the ''Cultural Capital of Switzerland''.<ref name=CulTCapital>{{cite web |url=http://bs.ch/en/Portrait/culture.html |title=Cultural Capital of Switzerland |publisher=Canton of Basel-Stadt |website=Kanton Basel-Stadt |type=official site |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308160302/http://bs.ch/en/Portrait/culture.html |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Among others, there is the Anatomical Museum of the University Basel, Berri-Villen and [[Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig|Museum of Ancient Art Basel and Ludwig Collection]], Former [[Franciscan]] ''Barefoot'' Order Church and [[Basel Historical Museum]], Company Archive of Novartis, ''Haus zum Kirschgarten'' which is part of the [[Basel Historical Museum]], Historic Archive Roche and Industrial Complex Hoffmann-La Roche, Jewish Museum of Switzerland, [[Caricature & Cartoon Museum Basel]], Karl Barth-Archive, ''Kleines Klingental'' (Lower Klingen Valley) with Museum Klingental, [[Kunstmuseum Basel|Art Museum of Basel]], hosting the world's oldest art collection accessible to the public, [[Natural History Museum of Basel]] and the [[Museum of Cultures Basel]], Museum of Modern Art Basel with the E. Hoffmann collection, Museum Jean Tinguely Basel, Music Museum, Pharmacy Historical Museum of the University of Basel, Poster Collection of the School for Design (''Schule für Gestaltung''), Swiss Business Archives, Sculpture Hall, Sports Museum of Switzerland, Archives of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, [[UBS]] AG Corporate Archives, University Library with manuscripts and music collection, Zoological Garden (''Zoologischer Garten'').<ref name=Museums/>

=== Theatre and music ===
[[File:2025-05-10 ESC Basel Drumherum 010.jpg|thumb|Metro decor for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025]]]]
Basel is the home of the [[Schola Cantorum Basiliensis]], founded in 1933, a worldwide centre for research on and performance of music from the Medieval through the Baroque eras. [[Theater Basel]], chosen in 1999 as the best stage for German-language performances and in 2009 and 2010 as "Opera house of the year" by German opera magazine ''[[Opernwelt]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-07 |title=Basel: culture pure |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107230642/http://www.basel-virtuell.ch/en/culture |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> presents a busy schedule of plays in addition to being home to the city's opera and ballet companies. Basel is home to the largest orchestra in Switzerland, the [[Sinfonieorchester Basel]]. It is also the home of the [[Basel Sinfonietta]] and the [[Kammerorchester Basel]], which recorded the complete symphonies of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] for the [[Sony]] label, led by its music director [[Giovanni Antonini]]. The Schola Cantorum and the Basler Kammerorchester were both founded by the conductor [[Paul Sacher]], who went on to commission works by many leading composers. The Paul Sacher Foundation, opened in 1986, houses a major collection of manuscripts, including the entire [[Igor Stravinsky]] archive.
The baroque orchestras La Cetra and Capriccio Basel are also based in Basel.

In May 2004, the fifth European Festival of Youth Choirs (Europäisches Jugendchorfestival, or EJCF) opened; this Basel tradition started in 1992. Host of the festival is the local [[Basel Boys Choir]].

In 1997, Basel contended to become the "[[European Capital of Culture]]", though the honor went to [[Thessaloniki]].

In 2025, Basel hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025|Eurovision Song Contest]] at [[St. Jakobshalle]], becoming the third Swiss city to host the competition after [[Lugano]] in 1956 and [[Lausanne]] in 1989.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=2024-08-30 |title=Basel to host Eurovision song contest for Switzerland in 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/30/basel-to-host-eurovision-song-contest-for-switzerland-in-2025 |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Museums ===<!-- This section is linked from [[List of museums]] -->
[[File:Basel - 2017 - Kunstmuseum Basel - Altbau.jpg|thumb|The [[Kunstmuseum Basel]], oldest public museum of art in Europe]]
The [[Museums in Basel|Basel museums]] cover a broad and diverse spectrum of [[collection (museum)|collections]] with a marked concentration in the fine arts. They house numerous holdings of international significance. The over three dozen institutions yield an extraordinarily high density of museums compared to other cities of similar size and draw over one million visitors annually.<ref name=Museums>{{cite web |url=http://www.bs.ch/en/Portrait/Kultur/Museen.html |title=A lot to see in such a small city |publisher=Canton of Basel-Stadt |type=official site |website=Kanton Basel-Stadt |access-date=31 August 2015 |archive-date=15 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015210545/http://www.bs.ch/en/Portrait/Kultur/Museen.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Constituting an essential component of Basel culture and cultural policy, the museums are the result of closely interwoven private and public collecting activities and promotion of arts and culture going back to the 16th century. The public museum collection was first created back in 1661 and represents the oldest public collection in continuous existence in Europe. Since the late 1980s, various private collections have been made accessible to the public in new purpose-built structures that have been recognized as acclaimed examples of [[avant-garde]] [[museum architecture]].
[[File:R0014764.jpg|thumb|The [[Beyeler Foundation|Fondation Beyeler]] by Renzo Piano, located in Riehen]]

* [[Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig]] Ancient cultures of the Mediterranean museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch |title=Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig :: Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig |publisher=Antikenmuseumbasel.ch |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221409/http://www.antikenmuseumbasel.ch/ |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Augusta Raurica]] Roman open-air museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baselland.ch/docs/kultur/augustaraurica/e/menu/index.php |title=Augusta Raurica |publisher=Baselland.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425224429/http://www.baselland.ch/docs/kultur/augustaraurica/e/menu/index.php |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Basel Paper Mill]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Basler Papiermühle}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.papiermuseum.ch/default-1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205141605/http://www.papiermuseum.ch/default-1.htm |archive-date=5 February 2007 |title=Start-e |date=5 February 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* [[Beyeler Foundation]] (Foundation Beyeler) 
* Botanical Garden Basel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Botanical Garden |url=https://www.unibas.ch/en/University/University-Society/Botanical-Garden.html |access-date=23 March 2025 |website=[[University of Basel]] via Wayback Machine}}</ref>
* [[Caricature & Cartoon Museum Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Karikatur & Cartoon Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cartoonmuseum.ch/ |title=Karikatur & Cartoon Museum Basel – home |language=de |publisher=Cartoonmuseum.ch |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=29 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529164015/http://www.cartoonmuseum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dollhouse Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Puppenhausmuseum}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.puppenhausmuseum.ch/ |title=Puppenhausmuseum Basel: Startpage |publisher=Puppenhausmuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=15 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315100143/http://www.puppenhausmuseum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a museum housing the largest teddy bear collection in Europe.
* Foundation Fernet Branca ({{langx|fr|link=no|Fondation Fernet Branca}}) in [[Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin]] near Basel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fondationfernet-branca.org |title=Foundation Fernet Branca |publisher=fondationfernet-branca.org |access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-date=14 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314042920/http://fondationfernet-branca.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Modern art collection.
* [[Basel Historical Museum|Historical Museum Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Historisches Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hmb.ch/ |title=Historisches Museum Basel |publisher=Hmb.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=14 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314074153/http://www.hmb.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Kunsthalle Basel]] Modern and contemporary art museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kunsthallebasel.ch |title=Kunsthalle Basel · Aktuelle Ausstellungen |publisher=Kunsthallebasel.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425135424/http://www.kunsthallebasel.ch/ |archive-date=25 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Kunstmuseum Basel]] [[Upper Rhine|Upper Rhenish]] and [[Flemish painting]]s, drawings from 1400 to 1600 and 19th- to 21st-century art<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110011257/http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/ |archive-date=10 January 2008 |title=Kunstmuseum Basel &#124; Home |date=10 January 2008 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* Monteverdi Automuseum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tobiasullrich.de/monteverdi/museum/ |title=MONTEVERDI Car Collection Monteverdi Museum |publisher=Tobiasullrich.de |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403074425/http://www.tobiasullrich.de/monteverdi/museum/ |archive-date=3 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Museum of Cultures Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Museum der Kulturen Basel}}) Large collections on European and non-European cultural life<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mkb.ch |title=Museum der Kulturen Basel |publisher=Mkb.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721014608/http://www.mkb.ch/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Museum of Contemporary Art (Basel)|Museum of Contemporary Art]] Art from the 1960s up to the present<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/museum-fuer-gegenwartskunst-mit-emanuel-hoffmannn-stiftung1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224544/http://www.kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/museum-fuer-gegenwartskunst-mit-emanuel-hoffmannn-stiftung1.html |archive-date=26 September 2007 |title=Kunstmuseum Basel – Museum für Gegenwartskunst mit Emanuel Hoffmann-Stiftung |date=31 December 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref>
* [[Music Museum (Basel)|Music Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Musikmuseum}}) of the Basel Historic Museum
* [[Natural History Museum of Basel]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Naturhistorisches Museum Basel}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nmb.bs.ch |title=Naturhistorisches Museum Basel &#124; Home |publisher=Nmb.bs.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426032641/http://www.nmb.bs.ch/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Pharmazie-Historisches Museum der Universität Basel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaziemuseum.ch |title=Pharmazie-Historisches Museum der Universität Basel |publisher=pharmaziemuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401005147/http://pharmaziemuseum.ch/ |archive-date=1 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Schaulager]] Modern and contemporary art museum<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schaulager.org/en/index.php?news=true |title=Schaulager Modern and contemporary art museum |publisher=Schaulager |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713180652/http://www.schaulager.org/en/index.php?news=true |archive-date=13 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Swiss Architecture Museum]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Schweizerisches Architekturmuseum}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.architekturmuseum.ch |title=S AM – Home |publisher=Architekturmuseum.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212193536/http://www.architekturmuseum.ch/ |archive-date=12 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Tinguely Museum]] Life and work of the major Swiss iron sculptor [[Jean Tinguely]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinguely.ch/ |title=Museum Jean Tinguely Basel |publisher=Tinguely.ch |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=10 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310020256/http://www.tinguely.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Jewish Musem of Switzerland|Jewish Museum of Switzerland]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jewish Museum of Switzerland |url=http://www.juedisches-museum.ch/ |location=Basel, Switzerland |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929181622/http://juedisches-museum.ch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Events ===
The city of Basel is a centre for numerous fairs and events all year round. One of the most important fairs for contemporary art worldwide is the [[Art Basel]] which was founded in 1970 by Ernst Beyeler and takes place in June each year. [[Baselworld]], the watch and jewellery show (''Uhren- und Schmuckmesse'') one of the biggest fairs of its kind in Europe is held every year as well, and attracts a great number of tourists and dealers to the city. Live marketing company and fair organizer [[MCH Group]] has its head office in Basel.

[[File:Top Secret Drum Corps.jpg|thumb|Top Secret Drum Corps at the 2009 Basel Tattoo]]
The [[carnival]] of the city of Basel (''[[Carnival of Basel|Basler Fasnacht]]'') is a major cultural event in the year. The carnival is the biggest in Switzerland and attracts large crowds every year, despite the fact that it starts at exactly four o'clock in the morning (''Morgestraich'') on a winter Monday. The Fasnacht asserts Basel's Protestant history by commencing the revelry five days after [[Ash Wednesday]] and continuing exactly 72 hours. Almost all study and work in the old city cease. Dozens of fife and drum clubs parade in medieval guild tradition with fantastical masks and illuminated lanterns.

[[Basel Tattoo]], founded in 2006 by the local [[Top Secret Drum Corps]], has grown to be the world's second largest military tattoo in terms of performers and budget after the [[Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo|Edinburgh Military Tattoo]].<ref name="swissinfo">[https://archive.today/20130115202332/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Home/Archive/Basels_tattoo_spins_to_success.html?cid=995834 Basel's tattoo spins to success]. swissinfo.ch, written 2008-7-15, retrieved 13 July 2012</ref> The Basel Tattoo annual parade, with an estimated 125,000 visitors, is considered the largest event in Basel. The event is now sponsored by the [[Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport|Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)]], making it the official [[military tattoo]] of Switzerland.

The city hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2025]] at the St. Jakobshalle arena.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-30 |title=Basel will host Eurovision Song Contest 2025 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/basel-will-host-eurovision-song-contest-2025 |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
There are a number of culinary specialties originating in Basel, including ''[[Basler Läckerli]]'' cookies and ''[[Mässmogge]]'' candies. Being located in the meeting place between Switzerland, France and Germany the culinary landscape as a whole is very varied and diverse, making it a city with a great number of restaurants of all sorts.

=== Zoo ===
[[File:ZolliAntelopeHouse2.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Antelope]] House at Zoo Basel]]
[[Zoo Basel]] is, with over 1.7&nbsp;million visitors per year,<ref name="2011 visitors">[http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Trotz-Grossbaustelle-Besucherrekord-beim-Zolli/story/10759447 {{in lang|de}} Besucherrekord beim Zolli] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604200133/http://bazonline.ch/basel/stadt/Trotz-Grossbaustelle-Besucherrekord-beim-Zolli/story/10759447 |date=4 June 2012 }}. [[Basler Zeitung]], published 23 February 2012</ref> the most visited tourist attraction in Basel and the second most visited tourist attraction in Switzerland.<ref name="visitors">[http://www.20min.ch/news/basel/story/25637966 {{in lang|de}} Zolli beliebt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307122412/http://www.20min.ch/news/basel/story/25637966 |date=7 March 2012 }}. [[20 Minuten|20min.ch]], published 23 February 2009</ref>

Established in 1874, Zoo Basel is the oldest zoo in Switzerland and, by number of animals, the largest. Through its history, Zoo Basel has had several breeding successes, such as the first worldwide [[Indian rhinoceros]] birth<ref name="Panzernashornhaus">[http://www.zoobasel.ch/aktuell/detail.php?NEWSID=37 {{in lang|de}} Eröffnung des Panzernashornhauses] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221003315/http://www.zoobasel.ch/aktuell/detail.php?NEWSID=37 |date=21 February 2014 }}. Zoo Basel, written 2006-09-26, retrieved 3 December 2009</ref> and [[Greater flamingo]] hatch<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bazonline.ch/basel/dossier/zoo-basel/Zolli-feiert-50-Jahre-Flamingozucht-und-Flamingosforschung/story/26419827|title=Zoo celebrates 50 years of flamingo breeding|newspaper=Basler Zeitung|date=13 August 2008|access-date=21 March 2010|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322081331/https://bazonline.ch/basel/dossier/zoo-basel/Zolli-feiert-50-Jahre-Flamingozucht-und-Flamingosforschung/story/26419827|archive-date=22 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> in a zoo. These and other achievements led ''[[Forbes]]'' Travel to rank Zoo Basel as one of the fifteen best zoos in the world in 2008.<ref name="Forbes">[http://www.getlisty.com/preview/worlds-best-zoos/ Forbes Travel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227032008/http://www.getlisty.com/preview/worlds-best-zoos/ |date=27 December 2010 }}. GetListy, retrieved 26 March 2010</ref>

Despite its international fame, Basel's population remains attached to Zoo Basel, which is entirely surrounded by the city of Basel. Evidence of this is the millions of donations money each year, as well as Zoo Basel's unofficial name: locals lovingly call "their" zoo "''Zolli''" by which is it known throughout Basel and most of Switzerland.

=== Sport ===
[[File:Basel, St.-Jakob-Park- pic05.jpg|thumb|[[St. Jakob-Park]]]]

Amongst its major sports venues, Basel features a large [[St. Jakob-Park|football stadium]] that has been awarded four stars by [[UEFA]], a modern ice hockey arena, and a sports hall.

The [[association football|football]] club [[FC Basel]] is successful and in recognition of this the city was one of the Swiss venues for the [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008 European Championships]], along with [[Geneva]], [[Zürich]] and [[Bern]]. The championships were jointly hosted by Switzerland and [[Austria]]. [[BSC Old Boys]] and [[Concordia Basel]] are the other football teams in Basel.

Among the most popular sports in Switzerland is [[ice hockey]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info/| title=Popular sports in Switzerland| publisher=popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info| access-date=10 July 2011| archive-date=10 August 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810184111/http://popular-swiss-sports.all-about-switzerland.info/| url-status=live}}</ref> Basel is home to [[EHC Basel]], who play in the [[1. Liga (ice hockey)|MySports League]], the third tier of the Swiss ice hockey league system. They play their home games in the 6,700-seater [[St. Jakob Arena]]. The team previously played in the [[National League (ice hockey)|National League]] and the [[Swiss League]], but filed for bankruptcy after the [[2013-14 National League B season|2013–14 Swiss League season]].

Basketball has a very small but faithful fan base. The top division, called the [[Swiss Basketball League|SBL]], is a semi-professional league and has one team from the Basel region, the "Birstal Starwings". One player from Switzerland is currently active in the NBA, [[Clint Capela]]. As in most European countries, but unlike the U.S., Switzerland has a club-based rather than a school-based competition system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unibaselbasket.ch/english.html|title=English|website=Uni Basel Basket – Der Basketball Verein aus Basel|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627050225/http://www.unibaselbasket.ch/english.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Starwings Basel]] are the only first division basketball team in [[German-speaking Switzerland]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160924162534/http://www.indoorsports.ch/de/alle/detail-alle-sportarten/news/detail/News/starwings-die-exoten-aus-basel/ Starwings – die Exoten aus Basel]}}, indoorsports.ch {{in lang|de}}, accessed 5 September 2015.</ref>

A large indoor tennis event takes place in Basel every October. Some of the best [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]]-professionals play every year at the [[Davidoff Swiss Indoors|Swiss Indoors]], previously including Switzerland's biggest sporting hero [[Roger Federer]], a Basel native who describes the city as "one of the most beautiful cities in the world".

In July 2022, the women's water polo players of the WSV Basel secured their 11th national championship title.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Isabel Langer |title= Die Meistertrophäe geht nach Basel: Die Wasserballerinnen des WSV Basel sichern sich den 11. Meistertitel|url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/sport/basel/wasserball-die-meistertrophaee-geht-nach-basel-die-wasserballerinnen-des-wsv-basel-sichern-sich-den-11-meistertitel-ld.2312504 |accessdate=26 July 2022 |work=BZBasel.ch |date=2 July 2022 |language=German}}</ref>

[[Basel GAA]], a [[Gaelic games]] club, is also located in Basel. [[Basel Dragons AFC]] have been playing [[Australian rules football|Australian Football]] in the [[AFL Switzerland]] league since 2019.

The annual [[Basel Rhine Swim]] draws several thousand visitors to the city to swim in or float on the Rhine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swimming in the Rhine in Basel|date=8 June 2014|url=http://www.lifeinbasel.com/2014/06/09/swimming-in-the-rhine-in-basel/|publisher=Life in Basel|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724204431/http://www.lifeinbasel.com/2014/06/09/swimming-in-the-rhine-in-basel/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The headquarters of the [[International Handball Federation|IHF]] (International Handball Federation) is located in Basel.