The Morgenstreich at the Basel Fasnacht is one of the, if not the, most important set pieces of the three most beautiful days. If you're coming to Fasnacht - this is the one event you musn't, under any circumstances, miss.
Kicking off at 4am on the Monday morning, Morgenstreich is a rigourous but worthy start to your experience with "The Three Wonderful Days". Lanterns process through Marktplatz, with the distinctive Renaissance Town Hall, and Barfüsserplatz lampooning various events of the preceding year with sardonic, cutting wit of which the natives to Basel are justifiably proud.
This year, from the international arena, the BP oil spill and Barack Obamas response came in for most excellent ripostes.
Basel Fasnacht - display of Fasnacht lanterns - Lanterns of Basler Fasnacht being displayed in Münsterplatz
Basel - great things to do - 8 of the best things to do in and around the city of Basel
Switzerland - sacred destinations - Nine of the finest churchs, cathedrals and monastries in Switzerland
Basel Fasnacht - lanterns at Münsterplatz - Lanterns displayed in front of the Basler Münster on the second day of Basler Fasnacht
Basel - Van Gogh exhibition 2009 - A visit the Van Gogh Exhibition at the Kunstmuseum in Basel
Basel SBB - Deutsche Bahn train - A Deutsche Bahn train sits at the Basel SBB train station
Switzerland - festivals not to miss - Fantastic Swiss festivals to visit through the year
Liestal - Chienbaese 2013 - The Chienbaese procession through the central Altstadt of Liestal
Liestal - Chienbäse - Chienbäse being paraded through the old town of Liestal
Liestal - Chienbäse fire - Chienbäse fire being paraded in Liestal
Basel Tourismus - Official website of Basel City Tourism
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook