Basel is surrounded by a host of beauty spots just waiting to be discovered in the rolling countryside surrounding our region. It’s not surprising, therefore, that we’ve taken a number of walks to discover these gems. After all, most of know Basel quite well, right? Well, not exactly. In April, Wohnen+ Basel’s members and friends had an outing with a difference.
Our organisers, Doris and Dorothea, led us to a part of the City that few know well. Downriver from the Rheinknie, there is a fully-functioning port, handling shipping freight right in the centre of Europe. Kleinhüningen is located on the eastern bank of the Rhine in the middle of the border triangle (Dreiländereck) where Switzerland, Germany and France come together.
We met at the Dreirosenbrücke tram stop on this same Kleinbasel side at 10.30 am. With views of neighbouring French communities across the river, we traced the promenade north to the tip of Westquai Island. It was here that we discovered a bar called the Sandoase. Coffee in hand, sand between our toes, we chatted among ourselves or quietly took in the peaceful harbour atmosphere.
We had been warned of wet weather, but yet again, we were lucky – no rain, despite the cool spring day with overcast skies. The harbour is an imposing sight in itself, and there’s no shortage of culinary and cultural attractions you can visit along the Kleinbasel riverside promenade.