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Basel: Switzerland on the Rhein episcopal and Habsburg attempts to era. It became a regular negotiation
micromanage them. After the Black locale during the Napoleonic Era. In
Death reached Basel in 1348, Basel 1897 the World Zionist Organiza-
By Martin Ederer mountains, Basel’s location places the Celtic tribe already living there. blamed the Jews. In 1349 the ensu- tion held its first congress there. The
historic tour of the top five it in a very busy and relatively level Augusta Raurica was located some ing Basel Massacre executed some Socialist Second International met
Acities of German-Speaking (by Swiss standards) corner of West 12 miles from the center of present 50 Jews by burning. A 1356 earth- in Basel in 1912. In 1989, the Basel
Switzerland requires some creativi- Central Europe in the Rhine Valley Basel, but the Romans eventually quake destroyed much of the city. Convention led to agreement to pre-
ty. They are not the same as the five on Swiss, German and French bor- established a camp there as well. In Basel joined the Swiss Confed- vent the export of hazardous waste
largest cities of Switzerland, which ders. That very fact made it an im- AD 83, the whole area became part eration in 1501, becoming the elev- from wealthy to developing coun-
is home to regions whose indige- portant crossroads city through of Germania Superior. After Diocle- enth canton, and the only one tries.
nous languages also include French, much of its history and also gave it tian reorganized the Roman Empire invited to join. The others had to As the French Revolution
Italian, and Romansch. French- a reputation as a city impossible to in 293, the Basel area became part petition to join, but prosperous Ba- spilled out beyond French borders
speaking Geneva is the second-larg- defend. of Provincia Maxima Sequanorum sel was strategic militarily, econom- in 1792, France shoehorned Basel
est city in Switzerland, the home to Basel owes its origins to early (named for the Sequani in Gaul: the ically and diplomatically. The into the client Republic of Rauracia.
Calvinist Protestantism and the Celtic settlements in one of the plac- French River Saône is named for cornerstone of the arrangement was The experiment only lasted a year.
League of Nations. That makes Ba- es where the Rhine bends. When the them). First mention of the name Basel’s insistence on neutrality. In 1833, the countryside around Ba-
sel, the third-largest city in Switzer- Romans occupied areas beyond Basel appeared in Ammianus Mar- None of this impressed the sel seceded from the canton.
land, the second-largest Gaul, they established a castle at cellinus’ history as Basilia. prince-bishop. That lingering issue Basel developed as an industrial
German-speaking Swiss city, with a what they named Augusta Raurica, From the 300s into the 400s the played a role in the direction Basel center as well as a transportation
population around 177,000. a name signifying both Emperor Basel area faced repeated attacks took in the Protestant Reformation. hub through the 19th and 20th cen-
Contrary to popular ideas that all Augustus’ plans to establish north- from the German Alemannic con- For many locales, embracing Prot- turies. Besides the Schweizerische
of Switzerland is made up of craggy ern fortifications and the Raurici, federation of tribes. The Alemans estantism was as much about the Bundesbahn, both the French and
successfully overran the area in the politics of ousting entrenched lead- German railroad systems also main-
400s as the Western half of the Ro- ership 00 which was, by definition, tain stations and yards in the Basel
2026 Buffalo German Fest man Empire was beginning to fall Catholic—as it was about theology. area. Basel is also corporate head-
The major figure in making Basel quarters for Swissair and for numer-
apart. By this time Rome had built
sturdy fortifications at the site of the Protestant was Johannes Oecolam- ous banking concerns. Basel looms
from page 1 take advantage of the discounted current city; in the early Middle padius. large in chemical and pharmaceuti-
Festival goers will also be able food and beverage festival special Ages (500s) the Franks took the By the Reformation Basel had cal industries. Basel suffered dam-
to try a variety of German delicacies tickets, which can be picked up at town, adding to the mix of Celtic, representation both in the Imperial age during World War II after being
or enjoy a fun twist on familiar dish- the will call table when you arrive Roman and Alemannic heritage in Diet and in the Swiss Confedera- bombed by mistake.
es. Don’t forget to bring your steins at the event. Children 12 and under the region. By the 600s Basel had tion. It was home to a major printing Basel also has the distinction of
so you can properly sample and are free to attend. surpassed Augusta Raurica as the industry and an important university being the most museum-ed city in
toast the refreshing German beers Interested in placing an ad or administrative seat. To add insult to that attracted top talent from all over Switzerland, with world-famous
being offered. Don’t have a stein, patron in their special edition pro- injury, a bishopric was established Europe. Basel had also become an collections. The old city of Basel
not a problem. Before visiting the gram book? Contact in Basel in the 700s, which replaced important place for important meet- claims a long list of world heritage
beer tent to quench your thirst, pe- BuffaloGermanFest@gmail.com. the existing diocese of Augusta ings. Most notable was the Council sites; most tourists also identify the
ruse the vendors in the Marktplazt The committee is still looking for Raurica. of Basel (1431-1449), which sought Basel Zoo as a must-see attraction.
area specializing in German steins, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers After the Carolingian Empire to reform the Catholic Church well Notable people from Basel in-
merchandise, and other delectable to make this year’s Buffalo German broke up, Basel first went to the before the Reformation. Basel host- clude the art historian Jakob Burck-
treats. Fest the most memorable yet! Western Kingdom (Francia), and ed major humanist talent. Erasmus hardt, whose writings single-
Festival attendees can also par- “We encourage anyone who is later to the more Germanic Eastern of Rotterdam died in Basel and was handedly defined the Italian Renais-
ticipate in the free keg tapping cere- interested in learning about German Kingdom. Then the Magyars de- buried in the Minster. Paracelsus, a sance, shaping popular impressions
mony or one of the many contests traditions to attend,” said Ms. stroyed the town in 917. Rebuilt major figure in the history of medi- of the Renaissance that have persist-
planned throughout the weekend, Knowles. “It’s always fun to see Basel became part of Upper Bur- cine, spent time in Basel. The first ed ever since. Then there is the Ber-
such as the ever-popular stein hoist some of the festival attendees gundy which was then incorporated edition of Calvin’s Institutes of the nouli clan of Mathematicians, as
competition, the adorable Hummel dressed in their proper dirndls or into the (eastern) Holy Roman Em- Christian Religion was published in well as Karl Barth, a Swiss Re-
look-alike contest, or the stomach- bundhosen, enjoying the festival pire in 1032. Already from 999 on- Basel. formed theologian. Tennis star Rog-
challenging sauerkraut eating con- and singing ‘ein prosit der gemüt- ward, Basel was ruled by Basel’s reputation as a meeting er Federer is from Basel.
test. Make sure you bring the kids lichkeits’ at the top of their lungs. prince-bishops. By the 1200s, Basel place only grew during the modern
too – there will be a kinder area on Even the youngest members of the had developed into a typical medi-
Saturday with German crafts, games audience get into it and it’s quite an eval city with fortifications and a
and facepainting. adorable sight!” city council made up of nobles and
Are you a car or motorcycle en- For more information you can businessmen. Thanks to growing
thusiast? The Buffalo German Fest check their website at www.Buffalo prosperity Basel became home to a
is partnering with the BMW Car German.com, or Facebook page at vigorous guild system. Bishop Hei-
Club to bring a European car and www.facebook.com/BuffaloGerma nrich von Thun ordered the first
motorcycle corral from noon until 3 nFest, or e-mail BuffaloGerman bridge built across the Rhein in the
p.m. on Saturday. Want to learn Fest@gmail.com. city in 1225.
more about your German heritage or The Federation of German- By the end of the 1300s, the city
translate family German documents American Societies of Buffalo & had developed a strong record of
that you’ve come across? Make Vicinity, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for- opposition against the prince-bish-
sure to visit the cultural area and profit cultural organization whose ops, also a typical urban dynamic in
talk with one of the many expert purpose shall be to further the com- much of medieval Central Europe.
volunteers. mon goals and interests of its mem- Usually the easiest solution was for
A $6 charitable tax donation will bers in regard to preservation and the people to simply do their thing
be accepted at the door, or patrons perpetuation of German customs, as if the bishop no longer ruled over
will be able make them ahead of traditions, song, sports, language them, creating a virtual indepen-
time online, where they can also and establishing of mutual fellow- dence. Habsburg rulers of the Holy
take advantage of the 2026 festival ship. Roman Empire attempted to control
special. Skip the ticket lines and the city, creating several rounds of
conflicts through the 1300s. After
joining the Swabian League of Cit-
ies in 1385 and the warfare that
followed, Basel’s people had man-
aged to free themselves of both

July - August 2026 • THE GERMAN CITIZEN • 3