6 Old Ruins to Explore in Basel City

Checkout places to visit in Basel City

Basel City

The Canton of Basel-Stadt, established in 1833, is the most densely populated canton in Switzerland. The Carnival of Basel is a major cultural event in the year. The carnival is one of the biggest in Switzerland and attracts large crowds.

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Old Ruins to Explore in Basel City

Augusta Raurica

The best-preserved ancient theatre north of the Alps. Augusta Raurica is the perfect excursion destination – for the whole family, for your school or for groups who wish to take a guided tour. This Roman archaeological site and an open-air museum in Switzerland located on the south bank of the Rhine river

Basler Stadtmauer

The Gate of Spalen is a former city gate in the ancient city walls of Basel, Switzerland. One of the three remaining gateways, it is regarded as one of the most beautiful gates of Switzerland. The gate is a landmark of Basel and a heritage site of national significance.

Birseck Castle

Birseck Castle is one of four castles on a slope called Birseck that confines the plain of the Birs river. The Eremitage building group that includes the castle is listed as a heritage site of national significance. Reichenstein Castle is the sister castle to Birseck and sits on a higher slope to the north.

St. Alban Tor

The St. Alban­Tor, dating back to ca. 1400, was part of the fortifications of the old walled city and is the gateway to a picturesque district of the city. The old gateway to the city still has its large wooden door and the heavy paling that was let down in times of danger to bar the entrance to the city. It was one of the ancient attractions in the city and also very famous among tourists.

St. Johanns-Tor

St. Johanns-Tor is one of the three surviving entrance gates to the old medieval walled city, which formed part of the fortifications built shortly after the great earthquake of 1356. Today this former gateway to the city is home to Basel's police force. The gateway is the landmark of the St. Johann quarter of the city.

Wartenberg

The Wartenberg is a striking landmark of the Basel-Landschaft community of Muttenz. On the mountain, there are ruins of three medieval castles, which are also named Wartenberg. All three castles were “cleared out” and “restored” during the “castle-romantic phase” in the 1930s to 1950s, with some archaeological findings being lost and historical building material being falsified. The "castle romanticism" led to a broad interest of the population in the Middle Ages.

Map of Old Ruins to explore in Basel City