March 26, 2019

A Quick Visit to the Tinguely Fountain in Basel

Tuesday March 26, 2019 -- I took a day trip to Basel to have lunch with my relatives who live there, and before heading home, made a quick detour to the beautiful Marktplatz in the old town near the river (Rhine). The large market place is dominated by the stunning city hall building, and always worth a trip. But the main reason I stopped in the old town was to watch the ever-fascinating Tinguely Fountain, a favourite of mine back in the 80's when I lived here.

Jean Tinguely is a native of Fribourg Switzerland, a sculptor most famous for his kinetic art motion sculptures (his intent was to satirize automation and the over-production of material goods). He is considered one of the great pioneering artists of the second half of the 19th Century (b.1925-d.1991,  Biography HERE). 

The Tinguely Museum in Basel is also on my list of things to see, as well as the magnificent work called "Heureka" in Zurich.

The videos and a couple of photos I took this day are worth posting here.

Basel City Hall in the Market Square. A magnificent building

Some details on the City Hall building in Basel

Some details on the City Hall building in Basel

The Tinguely Fountain in Basel

The Tinguely Fountain in Basel

The Tinguely Fountain in Basel

The Tinguely Fountain in Basel

VIDEO:
The workings of the Tinguely Fountain in Basel
(My own video, 1 minute long, can be viewed at YouTube or inside this blog)




This neo-gothic church building on the way to the train station is called "Offene Kirche Elisabethen"


The spires of the Basel Minster visible between the buildings

One of the typical masks of the popular Basel Carnival, which usually takes place early in March every year. 

Basel Train Station

Even the inside of the train station is fascinating... 








1 comment:

Black Limo Transfer said...

Thanks for sharing this nostalgic and visually rich post! The Tinguely Fountain is such a captivating piece—its quirky, kinetic energy makes it a standout even in a city as architecturally rich as Basel. For anyone planning a short visit like yours, especially if you're flying in just for the day or a weekend, a Basel Airport Transfer can make all the difference. It’s a reliable way to get straight into the heart of the city—perfect for quick detours to iconic spots like Marktplatz or the Tinguely Fountain before heading home.