It begins at precisely 4am on the Monday when all the lights are turned out and only hand-painted lanterns illuminate the city.
Basel’s carnival is the largest in Switzerland, lasting for exactly 72 hours and involving almost 20,000 costumed participants (in addition to thousands more attendees). Though equally as celebratory as other carnivals on the continent, this Unesco-listed cultural heritage festival has a distinctly more chaotic – and sometimes eerie – atmosphere than other alternatives, visible in the outfits, costumes and events staged throughout. It begins at precisely 4am on the Monday when all the lights are turned out and only hand-painted lanterns illuminate the city.