Basel - Great Swiss Collectors

5 October 2021

6 days from £2,295pp

Indulge in Basel’s spectacular art collections, studying a variety of forms, from mediaeval to modern. Discover Basel’s history of paper production, visit Switzerland’s largest Roman archaeological site and cross the border to Germany to see the modern Vitra Campus.

Discover the fabulous art collections of Basel in the company of your expert tour guide and study art from mediaeval to modern
Visit a mediaeval paper mill and learn about Basel’s history as a centre of paper and book production
Explore the fabulous Vitra Campus, a must for lovers of modern design
See the largest Roman archaeological site in Switzerland, at Augusta Raurica

Few cities merge history and tradition with cutting-edge design quite like Basel. Thanks to its position of the banks of the mighty Rhine, the city has been an important centre of trading, culture and learning since the Renaissance period. The University of Basel, Switzerland’s oldest, was founded here in 1460 by Pope Pius II. Such was its renown by the 16th century that the great Dutch scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam travelled to the city to teach at the institution for several years. Hans Holbein the Younger also arrived in the city during this period, finding a thriving paper and printing industry as well as a flourishing circle of humanist scholars and prosperous patricians, fertile ground for a young and ambitious artist. Holbein spent a decade working in the city and it was owing to this connection that in 1661, the city fathers purchased 20 works by the artist. Basel’s art collection has since swelled to an impressive 40 museums and galleries, and an established cultural status, coupled with a lucrative pharmaceuticals industry, has seen the construction of several landmark buildings designed by some of the most eminent contemporary architects of our time. Tom Abbott leads this new Art Pursuits Abroad tour, which explores the many layers of this intriguing city.

Day 1:
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Basel. Transfer by private coach to Goetheanum, the huge and otherworldly concrete structure designed by Rudolf Steiner in 1923 as a centre for his philosophy of Anthroposophy, which combines spirituality and science. Time permitting, we will also stop at the peaceful Ermitage Arlesheim, a romantic celebration of nature and the largest English-style landscape garden in Switzerland. Continue to Basel to check in to our hotel before enjoying an evening meal together.
Day 2:
A day to explore Basel on foot and admire the handsome architecture of the Old Town. Our first stop is the Kunstmuseum, where we will pay particular attention to works of the German Renaissance, including the museum’s comprehensive Holbein collection. Other highlights are impressively wide-ranging, with works from Rubens to Rousseau. In the afternoon we wander on to the striking red sandstone minster, built in c. 1200 and housing the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam. In the afternoon we experience the kinetic creations of Swiss artist Jean Tinguely at the Museum Tinguely along with some additional exhibits in the area.
Day 3:
This morning we leave the city to visit the wonderful Foundation Beyeler in nearby Riehen. In the grounds of an idyllic park, the museum, designed by Renzo Piano to ‘serve art, and not the other way round’, houses an extensive collection of modern art, including works by Monet, Picasso, Matisse and Giacometti to name just a few. In the afternoon we cross the border into Germany to visit the spectacular Vitra Campus, a wonderland for lovers of modern design. The remarkable complex includes buildings designed by some of the most distinguished architects of the last century, such as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. Vitra are manufacturers of some of the world’s most iconic examples of product design, which are on show in the VitraHaus, while exhibitions in the Vitra Design Museum explore the relationship between art, design and the everyday. Return to Basel.
Day 4:
After breakfast at our hotel we make our way to Basel Schifflande where we board a river cruise to enjoy the Rhine on a trip through the locks at Birsfelden on the way to Rheinfelden and discover the city and region from the water on a lunch cruise as far as the border triangle. After returning from our cruise in the mid afternoon the rest of the day and evening is at leisure.
Day 5:
A second day in Basel to further explore the rich cultural offerings of the city. Visit the Historisches Museum in the Barfüsserkirche, a former Franciscan church and home to the Treasury of Basel Minster. Highlights include fragments of the famous Dance of Death mural, painted around 1400, and an exquisite installation of a ‘Kunst- und Wunderkammer’, a cabinet of art and curiosities. In the afternoon we will walk down to the riverbank where Basel’s historic paper mill was first established in 1453. After the Papal Council of 1431 to 1449 was staged in Basel, the need for writing material increased. The Paper Mill Museum gives a fascinating insight into historic procedures of paper making and book printing from the late Middle Ages. In the evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Image credit: Kostas Maros
Day 6:
We check out of our hotel after breakfast and drive east of Basel, to the Roman archaeological site Augusta Raurica, a 2000-year-old settlement complete with amphitheatre. After some time to explore this remarkably well-preserved site, the largest in Switzerland, we continue to Basel airport for an afternoon flight to London Heathrow.

Return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Basel
Private coach transfers and excursions.
Five nights’ bed and breakfast in the three star Hotel Basel, Basel
Two dinners and two lunches
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme.
Services of a lecturer and tour manager.
Detailed programme and study notes.
All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters.

Fly from London Heathrow

Return flights from London Heathrow are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Overview

The modern Hotel Basel is located in the heart of beautiful Basel’s old city, and is surrounded by fine historic buildings, sitting just above Market Square (Marktplatz) and the town hall (Rathaus). The central location in the pedestrian area allows guests to enjoy Basel’s sightseeing attractions or do some leisurely window-shopping on foot. Guests can dine on market fresh cuisine in the Brasserie restaurant and enjoy a relaxing drink in the Sperber Bar. In summer the Boulevard terrace is the perfect place to watch the world go by.

Room Facilities & Amenities

En Suite bathroom
TV with radio
Safe
Hairdryer
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Telephone
Air conditioning

Basel - Great Swiss Collectors

5 October 2021

6 days from £2,295pp

Your Accommodation

Hotel Basel, Basel

Overview

Room Facilities & Amenities

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