Basel: Birsig Tour

We were a group of about 15 alumni. Instructions on the invitation were not to wear our very best clothes but sturdy footwear. We met at the entrance to the Zoological Garden and first walked along the open river, past the new concert hall Kuppel, to where the River Birsig disappears underground at Heuwaage. We had a knowledgeable guide, telling us a lot about the history of the River Birsig, the historical trade along its banks, and the development of the city. At Heuwaage, the guide opened a small door, and we all had to descend below street level. Before we could start our journey, we all got a safety helmet to wear, because there was the danger of hitting your head on the low-hanging pipes.

The channel of the river was quite large and well lit. Walking along the river underground, the guide pointed out where we were in relationship to the city above, and how the river shaped the city. At a river branch, he asked us to sit down on wooden benches, and he projected a slide show on the wall of the channel, explaining us more about the history and developments of the city in relationship to the river.

After a tour of about an hour and a half, we reached our goal, where the River Birsig flows into the River Rhine. In order to escape the underground, we had to climb a metal ladder onto a metal platform. On the whole walk, everybody was talking to each other.

On the day after, we got a few warm thank-yous for the exciting tour. It looks like people enjoyed this special experience.

Warm regards,

Philippe Waelle, President of the Basel Chapter
Corinna Grisostomi, Event Officer
Patrick Näf, Event Officer