© Otto Böhne
© Otto Böhne
  • barfi / dl/ hc
  • Aktualisiert am

Local News Summary of November, 29th

  • Basel’s Christmas market – a tradition since 1978
  • Rheingasse offers various delights during the Advent season
  • Artificial ice rink on Marktplatz is nearly finished

Basel’s Christmas market – a tradition since 1978

Since last Thursday, the stallholders at the Christmas market in Basel have been celebrating its 40th anniversary. It began at Claraplatz in 1978, with the likes of Yves Born (silk scarfs), Tanja Geiser (wooden toys), and Raymond Waltzer (spices) running stalls.

In its first year, the city’s Christmas market took place on Claraplatz and was organised by private investors. In 1979, the market was organised by the city of Basel for the first time and expanded to Barfüsserplatz. In the 1990s, this square was the exclusive Christmas market place in Basel. From 2007 to 2010, the Christmas market also included Theaterplatz before it expanded to Münsterplatz in 2011. As time went by, the market changed drastically in size. At the beginning, there were about 35 stalls all in all – now, there are 181 of them. The “fairy tale forest” on Münsterplatz is one of the many extensions of the original market (see below).

Part of the Christmas market since the beginning

Yves Born is one of the few people who have been part of the market since its early days. Since 1978, he has sold handmade silk scarfs and accessories every year on his stall, which can be found at the stairs to the Barfüsserkirche (No. 7). To this day, he has not missed one Basel Christmas market.

The wooden toys created by Tanja Geiser have also been sold at the Christmas market since 1978. Her partner, Werner Köpfer, managed the stalls from the start before he unfortunately passed away last year. Ms Geiser now continues the tradition on her own. Her stall can be found in the centre of Barfüsserplatz (No. 33).

Raymond Waltzer (69 years old) has been selling spices and teas at “Gwürzegge” at the Christmas market since 1979. He is supported by his wife and their two children. The “Gwürzegge” is located at Barfüssergasse (No. 130).

“Fairy tale forest” to open soon

On Thursday, 30th November, the “Fairy tale forest” on Münsterplatz will open its gates. Children of all ages can enjoy the varied craft and culinary offerings of the “Robi-Spiel-Aktionen” association until 22nd December. (It is open from Monday to Friday from 1.30pm to 7pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 7pm.)

Basel’s Christmas market will be open daily from 11am to 8.30pm until 23rd December. On this day, the market will close at 6pm at the Münsterplatz and at 8pm at Barfüsserplatz.

 

Rheingasse offers various delights during the Advent season

The “Adväntsgass” yesterday opened in Rheingasse evening with the tapping of a beer keg sponsored by the Fischerstube brewery. The “other” Christmas market focuses on food and drink as well as extraordinary events. Quiet contemplation can be found elsewhere.

Is it already a tradition by now? For the third year, the Rheingasse will become the “Adväntsgass” – a special Christmas market in Basel. Other than the markets on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, the Rheingasse is putting a clear emphasis on food during pre-Christmas times. “Good conversations and a cosy atmosphere are usually generated when people are eating and drinking rather than when they go shopping,” initiator Tino Krattiger said. A total of 26 food stalls are awaiting customers – five more than last year. The “Adväntsgass” offers not only winter classics such as raclette, fondue, and mulled wine but also falafel, Taiwanese food, and goulash.

Cross-country ski trail in Rheingasse

However, the managers of the “Adväntsgass” do not want to attract people with food and drink alone. They also try to gain visitors to Rheingasse with various events. The “Manor Pistengaudi” is this year’s highlight: Winter sports enthusiasts can expect a special event on 9th December. On this date, you will be able to ski through Rheingasse on an artificial slope with cross-country skis. “Adväntsgass” manager Eva Matt said: “Our inspiration was the ski race at Spalenberg in 1984.” Basel’s “Radio Basilisk” celebrated its anniversary on the impromptu slope at Spalenberg back then – with real snow, it should be noted.

Apart from the cross-country skiing, there will also be a two-day alley market in Rheingasse where visitors can buy jewellery, clothes, and enjoy culinary specialties. The “Wohnwerk” will turn into the “Gschängglädeli am Rhy” for three days, and Manor will welcome visitors to a fondue on Thursday, 7th December. “The fondue cheese will be provided by Manor for free – but guests will have to bring their own melting pot, heat source, and forks,” Tino Krattiger said, in order to avoid miscommunication. There are always people who turn up without their own forks, he added.

It is best to show up early – last year, all 600 fondue portions were gone within an hour. But in the “Adväntsgass”, various events are already starting this Saturday. In the alley’s shopping windows, various artistic exhibitions will be on display – it remains a surprise what exactly they are going to be. And on 15th December, a Christmas “Schlager” music party will take place in Rheingasse.

 

Artificial ice rink on Marktplatz is nearly finished

The assembly of the Christmas ice rink on Marktplatz started yesterday. On Friday, the ice will be open for skaters.

It is almost like in New York: A festive Christmas tree, the city hall as a beautiful backdrop, and this feeling of flying across the ice. The artificial ice rink on Basel’s Marktplatz makes romantics feel dreamy. “We want to make the city market more attractive during winter time that way,” Sabine Horvath, manager of external relations and location marketing, told barfi.ch. The assembly of the artificial ice rink, measuring 110 square metres, started this week. With such a small size, it is no real competition for the Eglisee or Margarethen ice rinks. The synthetic surface is built on the Freie Strasse side of the market.

The opening of the Markplatz ice rink wil tke place on Friday, 1st December 2017, at 4.30pm.

Opening times:

Friday, 1st December 2017 until Saturday, 10th February 2018. The ice rink will be generally open on Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 6pm. During the shopping Sundays of 10th and 17th December, the ice rink will be open from 1pm to 6pm.