Each of our models celebrates an entity with a (his)story. This time we start with one local inspiration.
One of the most authentic historical assets of Basel keeps afloat, moves along the waves and never fails to impress.
Introducing the Fähre of Basel!
Bridging the gap between river banks, these Fähren are a floating heritage of the Rhine. To preserve its essence in our watches, the exact wood used in the Fähren is infused into the “soul of a watch”, the dial..
A floating bridge
Around 1225, the Middle Rhine Bridge (“Mittlere Brücke”) was built for crossing over the Rhine as Basel became a popular place of trade and residence.
Due to half of the bridge being made of wood, it could not withstand the test of time. A need for a second bridge was decided.
After various failed bridge projects, the Basler Künstlergesellschaft came up with the idea of running a Fähre on the Rhine inspired by Koblenz, where ferries had already been installed in 1853.
Staatsarchiv Stadt Basel
In 1854, with the Basel government’s permission, the artist society initiated the Fähre operations. Called "Rhymugge" (Rhine-Mücke), this Fähre was operational till 1877.
Four Ferries
There are now 4 Fähren in the city of Basel. Each one has his nickname : "dr Wild Maa", "dr Leu", "dr Vogel Gryff" and "dr Ueli". They connect the two riversides across the Rhine.
1862 - Vogel Gryff
1894 - Wild Maa
1895 - Ueli
1854/1877 - Leu (was moved to its current location below the Minster due to the construction of the Wettstein Bridge)
More than 4000 supporters?
Basel Fähre Association facilitates the preservation and rental of the Basel ferries. It consists of the association itself, the foundation and the tenants. The Fähri-Verein was founded in 1974 under the name «Verein Freunde Basler Fähren» (today «Fähri-Verein Basel»).
Surprisingly, the ferries are not funded by the state as they are not officially part of the public transport system. The funds are raised collectively by the association's 4,000 members, donations from foundations, guilds, companies and private individuals.
The magic of circular economy
The circular economy advocates the reuse of materials. We reuse materials that have a story. It's an invitation to all of us to get on board with sustainability and the circular economy.
Showcasing a beautiful collaboration between a city and its people, the Basel Fähren are a mark of collective participation and cultural contribution of people.
They function thanks to renewable energy, the power lying in the currents of the Rhine. Just the sound of water, soft breeze and a good conscience.