Basel
13th-16th September 2027
Basel sits on the Rhine at the meeting point of Switzerland, France and Germany, and is a city with an extraordinary concentration of art and architecture. During our visit we will explore its historic centre, from the Rathaus and Münster overlooking the Rhine to the city’s superb Kunstmuseum. We will also visit the extraordinary Tinguely Museum, – where mad, kinetic machines hoot, hiss and grind – and the brave can take the opportunity to experience one of Basel’s favourite summer pastimes: floating down the Rhine with the current.
We will venture beyond the city too, visiting Le Corbusier’s extraordinary chapel at Ronchamp and the Fondation Beyeler, one of Europe’s great collections of modern art. On our final day we will discover the strange and fascinating world of Rudolf Steiner at the Goetheanum before lunch at an Alsatian vineyard.
Itinerary
Monday 13th September
We will arrive in Basel in the late morning and drop our bags at the hotel. After lunch at a lovely restaurant in the courtyard of the Antikenmuseum, we will begin our orientation walk through the city. We will start at the Rathaus, Basel’s spectacular city hall, before continuing to the Münster, which dominates the city from its position above the Rhine. Inside the cathedral we will look at the plaque commemorating Erasmus, who spent his final years in Basel, before climbing the tower. From the top there are wonderful views across the city and down onto the Rhine, where, in summer, the Baselites can be seen swimming—or rather floating—with the current. We will end the day with supper at a good local restaurant.
Tuesday 14th September
We will spend the morning at the Kunstmuseum, which has a fabulous collection of 19th and early 20th century painting. Among the artists particularly associated with the museum is the great Swiss painter Ferdinand Hodler, while there are also important works by Arnold Böcklin and some fantastic Holbeins. We will cherry-pick our way through the collection, exploring the extraordinary range of painting on offer.
After lunch at Café Jeannot, tucked into the basement of the Tinguely Museum, we will spend the afternoon with the works of Jean Tinguely, the wonderfully anarchic neo-Dada artist of the 1950s and 60s. His kinetic sculptures create an unexpectedly comic and joyous auditory experience. Afterwards, for anyone who fancies it, there is the opportunity to experience the Rhine in the way the Baselites do. Just outside the museum is one of the best places to enter the river. You put your clothes, phone and other belongings into special waterproof bags, which double as floats, and allow the current to carry you downstream through the city. You can get out whenever and wherever you choose, with the full journey taking no more than about 40 minutes. The Baselites themselves generally don’t bother swimming: they simply float along, chatting to one another as the strong current carries them through the city. The boats keep to the other side of the river, and you emerge near a string of riverside cafés and bars, where you can get dressed and have a well-earned glass of wine. We will end the day with supper at a good local restaurant.
Wednesday 15th September
We will drive to Ronchamp, about an hour and a quarter from Basel, to visit Le Corbusier’s extraordinary church of Notre-Dame du Haut at Sainte-Marie du Haut. There is Mass at 11am, which is well worth attending; afterwards there will be time to explore the building and its remarkable setting. We will also look at the later additions by Renzo Piano.
We will have lunch nearby at a local restaurant before driving back towards Basel. On the way we will stop at the Fondation Beyeler, one of the great collections of modern art. Like the Maeght Foundation, the collection was assembled by dealers—in this case Ernst and Hildy Beyeler—and ranges from the late 19th and early 20th centuries through to contemporary art. Only a fraction of the collection can be displayed at any one time, so we won’t know exactly what will be on the walls until nearer the visit. What is certain is that the building itself, designed by Renzo Piano, is worth the journey. There is also a particularly luxurious café where we can stop for refreshment. Supper will be in the centre of the old town.
Thursday 16th September
On our final morning, we will visit the extraordinary Goetheanum, the enormous concrete, mushroom-like building designed by Rudolf Steiner as the headquarters of the Anthroposophical Society. Only 15–20 minutes from central Basel, it is still an active institution rather than a museum, but they are very happy to show groups around. Steiner’s world encompasses a distinctly alternative vision of spirituality, with connections to architecture, dance, music, organic gardening and education. The Goetheanum also has fascinating connections with the wider history of modern art: Mondrian, Hilma af Klint, Kandinsky and Brancusi were all involved in or influenced by the movement, while T. S. Eliot famously mocked Steiner in The Waste Land.
We will then drive a short distance to Klus 177, a wonderfully organic Alsatian vineyard where we hope to have lunch. If this is not possible, we will head instead to the nearby town of Aesch and the rather wonderfully old-fashioned Gasthaus zur Sonne. After lunch we will take our coach to the airport for our afternoon flight home.
Further Details
Tutors
Tom and Katie Parsons will lead the trip. One of Tom’s many specialties is 19th and 20th century art, and he has published books on Post-Impressionism, Rodin and Renoir. Both Tom and Kaite know the best cafes, bars and hidden spots of Basel.
Hotels
We will stay at Hotel Märthof Basel, where timeless elegance, artistic sophistication and refined modern comfort meet in the heart of the city.
http://www.hotel-maerthof-basel.ch
Travel
We do not book your travel thus allowing you to travel to suit your budget, use airmiles, travel from different places or on different dates. However, we recommend booking the following group flights with British Airways:
Monday 13th September London Heathrow 8.40 -11.20 Basel BA760
Thursday 16th September Basel 20.20 – 20.55 London Heathrow BA763
Alternatively you can take the train, do let us know and we will be in touch with our suggested timings once tickets become available to purchase. You can book the whole journey on the Eurostar website.
Transport
There will be coach or taxi transfers to meet the recommended travel arrangements.
Ability
There is quite a lot of walking on this trip, as well as slopes and uneven cobbles. As many of the streets are small you will need to walk from the coach to the churches and museums. As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at.
Lunches and Dinners
Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinner is by no means compulsory, but we book a table for the group each night at different restaurants and divide the bill equally between everyone. Sometimes these may also need to be a set menu but we try our best to avoid this. We will adjust the bill for those not drinking alcohol.
Cost
The fees are £xx which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, entrance fees, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single occupancy supplement is £xx (double room for single use). Not included are the flights, all suppers, travel insurance. The group will not exceed 12 people.
To register – Please complete the online registration form, having read our terms and conditions and pay a deposit of £600 per person via bank transfer once you have received the confirmation email. Please note your place is not confirmed until we have received your deposit.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or call
01379 871800 (302)
NB you must buy your own flights or train.
