Posted on February 09, 2010 by Fiona Hilliard

When renting a car in Basel, you’ll most likely be picking up from Basel Airport. Basel is situated within Switzerland’s border with France and Germany.  The airport can be easily reached via the A35 motorway from Mulhouse and Basel.

Basel is a lively little city that boasts a diverse range of attractions for visitors.  The Old Town is famous for its pretty buildings, bustling town squares and impressive cathedral.  There are many eye-catching buildings by famous architects dotted in and around the city including stunning designs by the likes of Renzo Piano, Frank Gehry and Richard Meier.

Basel’s nearby countryside is in many ways just as attractive and is renowned for its historic archaeological remains and the old Roman town of Augusta Raurica.  The adjacent countryside and pretty natural wonders of Jura, Vosges and Black Forest make for excellent day trips and are well worth exploring with Basel car hire.

Basel has more than its fair share of cultural gems.  The city is a hub of cutting-edge design as well as the aforementioned architecture.  It is home to a range of fascinating galleries, theatres and music halls, alongside up to 30 different museums.

Cultural attractions worth including in your travel plans include the famous Kunstmuseum as well as the Museum Jean Tinguely, an expansive space dedicated to the contemporary artist and former local resident Jean Tinguely.

Basel has a long and fascinating history.  One of its main claims to fame is that it hosted Switzerland’s first university, which was founded way back in 1460. Over the years, the university attracted a range of humanist scholars including Erasmus of Rotterdam who helped provide Basel with a reputation for being a city rich in academic and humanist excellence, as well as a peaceful, open community.