Carnival, basel, Switzerland

It’s 4am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday (Feb–Mar), the city’s lights are switched off, and the party begins with a procession illuminated by huge, colorful lanterns. This is Fasnacht, an elaborate three-day festival dating back to the 14th century.

Basel’s old town resonates with the sound of drums and piccolos, as musical troupes wend their way through the winding streets, their faces obscured by elaborate papier-mâché masks. It’s very much a local affair, with participants drawing on topical stories to poke fun at local personalities and politicians with their satirical verse.

Tourism Carnival, basel, Switzerland
Tourism Carnival, basel, Switzerland

The Carnival of Basel is the biggest carnival in Switzerland and takes place annually between February and March in Basel. It has been listed as one of the top fifty local festivities in Europe. Since 2017, the Carnival of Basel has been included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. Wikipedia

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