Basel

Basel or Basle, (French, Bâle), city, northern Switzerland, capital of Basel-Town (Basel-Stadt) Half-Canton, on the River Rhine. It is the second largest city in Switzerland. In 1833 the two independent half-cantons, Basel-Town and Basel-Country (Basel-Land, or Basel-Landschaft), were created from the former Basel Canton. Basel-Town, covering 37 sq km (14 sq mi) and with a population (1991) of 193,512, comprises the city of Basel and two adjoining communities; Basel-Country, covering 428 sq km (165 sq mi) and with a population (1991) of 231,063, has its capital at Liestal. Most inhabitants of the region speak German.

The city of Basel is set in a rich agricultural region where fruit trees and vines are cultivated and cattle are bred. The city is the country’s principal railway junction and river port as well as a major industrial centre producing pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, printed materials, and textiles (notably silk). It is also the location of the annual Swiss Industries Fair. Points of interest include the Münster, consecrated as a cathedral in 1019 and as an abbey church in 1528; the 16th-century town hall; and the University of Basel, the first Swiss university, founded in 1460 by Pope Pius II. The Dutch scholar Erasmus taught at the university here and is buried in the Münster; the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche lived and worked in Basel. The city hosts the three-day Basel Carnival, known as Fasnacht.

The city was founded in ad 374 as the Roman frontier post Basilia. It was ruled by bishops of the Western Church after the 5th century, became an episcopal see in the 7th century, and in the 11th century it was designated as an imperial city governed by bishop-princes. From 1431 to 1439, the city was the site of the Council of Basel, a famous Roman Catholic council called to introduce reforms in the Church. In 1501 Basel joined the Swiss Confederation and became a centre of the Swiss Reformation movement. In 1986 the River Rhine at Basel was severely polluted by a chemical spill from a pharmaceutical company. Population 163,930 (2005 estimate).