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The Marktplatz
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Basel’s Marktplatz lies at the historic heart of the city, at the point where the River Birsig flows into the Rhine. Fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers are on sale here every day of the week, except Sundays. The red Town Hall (Rathaus), which dates from the 16 th century, directly overlooks the Marktplatz.
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Together with the Barfüsserplatz and the Münsterplatz, the Marktplatz is probably the most well-known public square in Basel. It is dominated by the splendid Town Hall (Rathaus), the seat of the government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, which also forms the city government.
The Town Hall, which has occupied this site since the 14th century, is located a clear distance from the seat of the former rulers of the city, the prince-bishops, who resided on the Münsterhügel. This spatial separation reflects the growing social and economic influence of the citizenry in the 14th century, who were striving for independence from the bishop.
In the year 1501 it was the craftsmen, organised in 15 guilds, who successfully persuaded the council of the city of Basel to join the Swiss Confederation.
To mark this development, at the beginning of the 16th century the front section of the former Town Hall was replaced by a more representative new building. The coats of arms of the 12 cantons that formed the Swiss Confederation at the time together with Basel were painted in colour on the battlements.
The Town Hall was extended in the early 17th century, and the enlarged façade was adorned with trompe-loeil by Hans Bock.
In 1900 the Town Hall was extended once again, and the new wing on the left and the tower on the right were added. At the same time, the old rear sections dating from the 14th century were demolished and new buildings were put in their place.
It was the age of Historicism, when architects played with elements drawn from earlier architectural styles. As a consequence, while the shape of the new building was borrowed from the old sections, the decoration reflected the very latest style, Jugendstil.
During the transition from Historicism to Jugendstil, almost all the old buildings around the Marktplatz were demolished to make way for larger new buildings.
The Renaissance-style building of the Zunfthaus der Weinleute (Wine Guild), known as the Geltenzunft, still remains to this day. Its members were wine traders and the owners of wine taverns. They enjoyed high standing in society, for wine, like bread, was one of the most important dietary staples, and the members of the Wine Guild monitored its quality.
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