A special arrangement for the carnival of Basel

Experience the 3 exeption days from Basel life! 
(27 - 29 February 2012)

Basel is rightly famous for its carnival tradition. Everyday life comes to a stand-still as thousands of revellers enjoy "die drey scheenschte Dääg" (the three most beautiful days).

On the Monday after Ash Wednesday, the city awakes with the "Morgestraich". When the clocks strike four, all the lights in the city centre are extinguished. Played on thousands of piccolos and accompanied by just as many drums, the traditional and somewhat archaic-sounding melody of the "Morgestraich" fills every street and alley of the city.

The only light sources are the big lanterns of the Fasnacht groups, the pole lanterns of the preceding "Vortrab" who clear the way for them, and the head lanterns on the masks of all participants. On Monday and Wednesday afternoon, all registered groups ("Clique") march in procession on a prescribed route through the streets on both sides of the Rhine.