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Schifflände and the Mittlere Brücke
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At the foot of the former bishop’s city on the Münsterhügel, the River Birsig flows through an underground channel into the Rhine. It was here that historical land routes and water routes once crossed. The first Rhine bridge at this transhipment point was opened in the 13th century. The present Mittlere Brücke was built at the beginning of the 20th century.
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In the Middle Ages, fishermen, sailors, merchants and craftsmen of all kinds settled in this important commercial area.
Basel's first bridge across the River Rhine was opened here in the year 1226. Initially used primarily by local traffic, it became an important Rhine crossing for long-distance traders in the 14th century when the road over the Gotthard Pass gained international importance.
This first bridge was built by the bishop-prince Heinrich von Thun. To enable this costly project to be realised, he was obliged to pledge the church treasure. Then in order to protect the expensive bridge, he caused the small fortified town of Kleinbasel to be built on the north bank of the Rhine.
Electric trams were introduced to Basel in the year 1895. These proved to be too heavy for the old bridge dating from the 13th century, so it was replaced by a new structure in 1905. In the middle of the new bridge stands a copy of the former bridge chapel, the "Käppelijoch". In the Middle Ages women who were accused of infidelity or infanticide were bound and thrown into the Rhine. If they were swept to the banks of the river still alive, then this was taken as proof of their innocence, and they were set free.
Today a landing stage for Basel's passenger ships is located at Shifflände. Interesting excursions along the Rhine can be taken from here.
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