Viewpoint over the Rhine

The viewpoint over the Rhine

The Basel audio-guided tour offers you a fine open view over the Rhine, which flows slowly between the two banks of the city. From this point, one understands the central place that the river has always occupied in Basel life and imagination.

The river and its legends

For centuries, the Rhine has nourished tales that were told at nightfall. One of the best known evokes the silhouette of a woman dressed in white that some said they glimpsed in the mist, near the water. The historic bridge that links the two banks also has its legend: it is said that its construction was so difficult that a pact was made with the devil, thwarted by the inhabitants who sent an animal to cross the structure first. These stories testify to the intimate link between the city and its river.

What there is to see

From this viewpoint, the gaze embraces the two banks, the river and the historic bridge. Basel has several fine viewpoints all along its banks, and it is particularly pleasant to walk there to enjoy the landscape and the peaceful atmosphere of the Rhine. It is one of the finest natural settings of the city.

Practical information

This viewpoint can be discovered at the edge of the Rhine, in the centre of Basel. It is a public space freely accessible at all hours and on the level. The banks and the panorama over the river can be contemplated freely, along the walk.

What legends are linked to the Rhine in Basel?

That of a woman in white glimpsed in the mist and that of a pact with the devil around the construction of the historic bridge.

Why is the Rhine important for Basel?

The river has always occupied a central place in the life, the commerce and the imagination of the city, which it crosses in its heart.