Lucerne, Switzerland is framed by the high-rising Mt. Pilatus in the
background, while Lake Lucerne borders the city on the other side. The combination is enchanting. For more information, go to www.luzern.com.
Welcome to European Traveler!
Dear Fellow Traveler:
What can you expect when you travel to Europe?
Europe holds so much promise for a fun vacation, an exciting getaway, or an in-depth look at different cultures. If you've not traveled to Europe before, you'll want to check out the possibilities. And there are many.
You can see so many historical attractions that hundreds of books have been written just on the monuments, castles, fortresses, towns and cities, and ruling families through the years. If you just want to take a vacation, you can relax at one of the large metropolitan hotels and see the sights of a city like Vienna, Berlin, London or Madrid. If you like excitement, you can motorcycle through the Alps, have fun whitewater rafting down a river, or hike to the top of many of Europe's highest peaks.
With so many countries in Europe so close to one another, you can travel from country to country in a few hours, and think of the different cultures that exist in Europe that you can experience.
You can expect a lot from traveling to Europe. Tasting the foods and wines, and meeting the people are other reasons to go.
At European Traveler, we're trying to bring you a little taste of Europe so you can plan better before you go. We cover foods, lodging, travel and attractions and more. I hope you enjoy the detailed stories and spectacular photos of Europe we present.
Maybe I'll see you down the road in Europe soon. You never know!
Don Heimburger
Publisher
The origins of Basel's Fasnacht are rather obscure, partly because of the terrible earthquake of 1356 which destroyed large parts of the city and many official archives.
The earliest records date back to Ash Wednesday in 1376, when a jousting tournament on the Münsterplatz was the scene of a row between citizens of Basel and some knights. The argument escalated into a blood bath and the local citizens chased off the noblemen, killing four of them in the process. Retribution was harsh: 12 citizens were beheaded and Emperor Charles IV placed a ban on the city, which meant the city was no longer afforded the protection of the Holy Roman Empire. This fateful day went down in the annals of Basel's history as the “Böse Fasnacht” and is the oldest record of Fasnacht activities.
It took many centuries for Fasnacht to develop into the festival we are familiar with today. Here are a few milestones showing how the event has developed through the centuries:
1529 - It was agreed that Fasnacht should take place between the Monday and the Wednesday following Ash Wednesday.
1529 - Oldest historical document describing the trading and selling of masks and disguises ("Fasnachtsantlit") by painters and shopkeepers.
1712 - Drum concert held on Petersplatz with 70 drummers taking part.
1715 - The city council imposed a ban on the “highly perilous custom” of wearing masks, on penalty of “corporate punishment or death.”
1798 - Ban imposed on processions and drumming.
1802 - The first “orderly” procession is organized.
1832 - First mention of Schnitzel songs (Schnitzelbänken), carrying on the tradition of the satirical and sardonic street ballads of the 16th century.
1845 - Torches banned as a fire precaution. Handheld lanterns used instead.
1860 - A giant lantern carried on the Morgenstreich for the first time.
Two Tales of a City:
