Art Travel Guide

Focus on Basel

Every 10 years the world is treated to a confluence of art events and festivals that engulf Europe in a transnational pilgrimage. 2007 is one of those rare years in which four major European art events can be experienced together. The journey begins with the opening of the Venice Biennale, which Art Travel Guide featured in the last issue. The next stop is Basel, for the 38th annual edition of Art Basel and the concurrent fairs taking place around the Swiss city. Following Art Basel is Documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany, which occurs only once every five years and will be the focus of our next issue. Rarest of all is the nearby Skulptur Projekte in Münster, which is presented every 10 years.

Once again this June, the beautiful ancient city of Basel hosts more than 400 of the world's most important art dealers during the spectacular Art Basel 2007. For a relatively small city, Basel is rich in cultural offerings. There are many top-tier museums that coordinate their exhibitions to add to the overall experience of visiting Basel during the Art Basel fair. Below you will find the main art events comprising Art Basel, listed along with a sampling of the exhibitions on view at local museums, as well as our suggestions on where to stay and dine while you enjoy the fair.

Thomas Hart
Managing Director — Art Travel Guide

Art \| 38 \| Basel June 13 - 17, 2007 Halls 1 & 2, Messe Basel Basel
Bâlelatina Contemporary Art Fair June 13 - 17, 2007 Brasilea Kulturhaus Westquai 39, Dreiländereck Basel
Design Miami/Basel June 12 - 16, 2007 Venue TBA Basel
Liste 07 - The Young Art Fair in Basel June 12 - 17, 2007 Burgweg 15 Basel
VOLTAshow03 June 11 - 16, 2007 Ultra Brag Südquaistrasse 55 Basel

Must-See Museums

Fondation Beyeler
Baselstrasse 101
Riehen/Basel
+41 61 645 97 00

Edvard Munch: Signs of Modern Art
March 18 - July 15, 2007

Museum Tinguely
Paul Sacher-Anlage 1
Basel
+41 61 681 93 20

The Situationist International: 1957-1972
April 4 - August 5, 2007

Homage to Alfred Hofkunst
May 16 - August 5, 2007

Schaulager
Ruchfeldstrasse 19
Münchenstein/Basel
+41 61 335 32 32

Robert Gober: Work 1976 - 2007
May 12 - October 14, 2007

Room with a View

Mercure Hotel Europe Basel
Clarastrasse 43
Basel
+41 61 690 80 80

Located very near the Messe Basel exhibition center, the Mercure Hotel offers four-star contemporary accommodations. Modern and comfortable, the Mecure provides all the amenities one has come to expect in an upper-market hotel, but with quite moderate room rates.

Swissôtel Le Plaza, Basel
Messeplatz 25
Basel
+41 61 555 33 33

For many years the Swissôtel Le Plaza has been the favorite hotel for those art enthusiasts visiting Art Basel. Located across the street from the entrance to the fair, you couldn't ask for a more convenient or lovelier location to relax in after a long day of walking through the fair.

Artful Dining

Restaurant Bruderholz
Pierre Buess
Bruderholzallee 42
Basel
+41 61 361 82 22

Located in a lovely residential area just a few kilometers from the city center, Restaurant Bruderholz guarantees a top-notch fine dining experience. This Michelin-starred restaurant — one of "Les Grandes Tables du Monde" — focuses on traditional French cuisine accompanied by an extensive wine list. Enjoy your meal on the beautiful secluded garden terrace.

Les Quatre Saisons
Clarastrasse 43
Basel
+41 61 690 87 20

The "Four Seasons" Restaurant is located in the Mercure Hotel, not far from the Messeplatz. The inventive seasonal fare with contemporary touches will please both the eye and the palate.

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