Located where France, Germany and Switzerland meet, Saint-Louis is a small commune in Alsace. It was named by King Louis XIV after his predecessor, Louis IX, and was renamed “Bourglibre” during the French Revolution. Today, Saint-Louis is a major aviation hub as home to the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg,
Things to do in Saint-Louis
A short drive north of Saint-Louis is La Petite Camargue Alsacienne, a historic nature reserve that encompasses 900 hectares of wetlands, marshes and flooded forests. Around 180 different bird species have been recorded within its bounds, together with 40 types of dragonflies and an impressive array of orchids. At the on-site museum, you can learn about the reserve’s establishment in 1852 as an imperial fish farm.
Enjoy a ride on the unique Basel Cable Ferry, which crosses the Rhine River with the help of a suspended steel cable. Rather than being powered by an engine, it uses the fast-flowing waters of the river for propulsion. Don’t be surprised if the ferryman relays a story or two during the short journey, as this is a long-standing tradition.
Art enthusiasts shouldn't miss a visit to the Fondation Fernet-Branca, which occupies a former distillery building. It houses changing exhibitions by painters, sculptors and graphic designers from the 20th century and the modern day. Be sure to visit the museum store where you can still buy bottles of the bitter herbal liqueur that was distilled here for many years by the Italian brand, Fernet-Branca.
Getting around Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis is around 10 minutes' drive from the centre of Basel and five minutes from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Trains connect to the Saint-Louis railway station and buses travel throughout the commune.