Basel Fasnacht | The Morgenstreich

We have just returned from Basel and what a fabulous four days it was. We were in the city to experience the Fasnacht - Basel's annual carnival. The Basel Fasnacht starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasts three days. For most residents of the city, the Fasnacht is the most happening time of the year; something they wait for very eagerly. As visitors to the city, it was equally a highlight and a wonderful experience for us.

Situated on the banks of the river Rhine, Basel is Switzerland's third-most-populous city. It is popular for its numerous museums and its architecture (both modern and old). The Fasnacht is an annual event and of late has been drawing in tourists from different parts of the world. Before our visit to Basel, we did not know about the carnival or its history. Yes, I had heard fleetingly about a carnival in Basel but I had not expected it to be of the scale that it turned out to be - it was a three-day spectacular filled with music, lots of fun and great community spirit.

The Fasnacht Schedule

Morgenstreich is the official start of the Fasnacht - it begins at 4 am on Monday followed by a big procession called the Cortege during the afternoon. The first day ends with drummers, flutists and 'Gugge' music bands taking to the streets in the evening. On Tuesday there is no official procession; however, in the afternoon the children’s Fasnacht also takes place followed by Gugge concerts in the inner-city in the evening. On Wednesday afternoon there is another big procession (similar to Monday afternoon) followed by bigger Cliques taking to the streets in the night. And 72 hours after it begins, the Fasnacht ends at 4 am on Thursday morning.

The Morgenstreich | Fasnacht 2018

The Fasnacht starts at 4 am sharp on the Monday after Ash Wednesday at the Marktplatz (Basel's main square). This beginning is referred to as the Morgenstreich. Thousands of drummers and flutists gather together in groups of varying sizes. These groups are referred to as 'Cliques'. Each Clique has their own theme and consists of masked members who are either playing the drums or the flute or are carrying illuminated lanterns. Crowds begin to gather at the Marktplatz much before the start time to ensure that they have a good viewing spot.

Thanks to Basel Tourismus we had a good viewing point - a balcony above Marktplatz from where we had an excellent perspective of the procession. As the 4 am start drew closer, the crowd began to grow. The Cliques were in position and at 4 am the city's streetlights are switched off!

Start of the Basel Carnival with the Morgenstreich

And the start of the carnival was magical! The only light now was from the large, illuminated lanterns and the smaller lanterns that the group members carried. The groups marched through the darkened streets with Clique members playing their drums and flutes. The traditional marching music which dates back to the 1800s has a lovely melody to it and it was mesmerising taking in the whole atmosphere. We had got up at 2 am to make it to the 4 am start and the early wake-up call was totally worth it. The atmosphere and mood were filled with excitement. It was impressive. The parade continued until daybreak (around 30-45 minutes) after which the procession started to thin out and the crowds began to disperse.

Photos do no justice to the event. It has to be seen to be truly experienced. I will leave you with some photographs nonetheless. This will give you an idea of what to expect at the carnival.

Stay tuned for more articles on the Fasnacht.

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