Basel's Old Town is one of the best preserved and most beautiful city centers in Europe. History is palpable here in the medieval red sandstone buildings and the Baroque townhouses. The modern face of the city is defined by buildings designed by the great architects: Mario Botta and Herzog & de Meuron or Renzo Piano - all can be explored on a special architectural tour. Women from ten centuries are encountered on a guided walk between Munsterplatz and Schifflande: empresses, aristocrats, saints, witches and prostitutes who made history. If nature beckons to you and you want to see foliage, visit the Botanical Garden in Bruglingen, situated in a park, which has been made available by the Christoph Merian Foundation for a period of one hundred years. But also the grounds of the former Green Exhibition, which is called Park im Grunen today, beckons with a lake, mini-golf course, playground, walking paths and romantic arbours. Tarry awhile and relax in the vicinity of the city. If you always wanted to know the various species of stags - they all live in Tierpark Lange Erlen and are looking forward to your visit.

No Basel visit is complete without a stop at Lackerli-Huus at Gerberngasse 57 for picking up some honey cakes to stash away and keep n reserve for emergencies. And all year round visitors stream into the Johann Wanner Christmas House at Spalenberg 14. Among the store's customers are the Windsor's and the White House. At Spalenberg the Seven Sisters have set up house with designer goods and crazy accessories from around the glove. Don't be put off by the unassuming window display at Baumleingasse: Here the renowned couturier Rapheal Biechschmidt and his designer clothes are at home. Antique watches and chronometers are to be found at Spinnler + Schweizer at Marktplatz; each watch is carefully selected, restored and catalogued.

Relaxing and soaking up the Swiss sun - where better to do that than on the benches that surround the Tinguely Fountain with its playful machine sculptures. Spirits are high under the blue sky at open-air activities in the courtyard of the Mercedes Cafe in the historic building at Schneidergasse 28. Under the giant poplars at Birskopfli, sun worshippers find their perfect summer oasis. Open all year are the Muncster, a cathedral perched prominently above the Rhine River, and the 40 museums, most of them easily reached on walks through the romantic Old Town.