Students: Kathrin Hasler, Natalie Pomer
Location: Group work in Basel
Date: January, 2007
Type: Research project, student work, three regions

Being one of the most mythical regions of Germany, which plays a significant role in the shaping of the traditional German self-understanding and national identity, it is also one of the biggest tourist regions of Germany, attracting millions of visitors to a region offering hiking, resorts, skiing, mountain-climbing and nature watching. The Feldberg, with its height of 1493 m, is the highest mountain of the Schwarzwald, the center of leisure and sports activities of the region, and is located just 40km to the northeast of Basel. The ‚Belchen‘, with 1414m the fourth highest mountain of the Schwarzwald, is visible from Basel and is inscribed into a mythical matrix of three identically named mountains, dating back to celtic times, 500 bc. The system of three ‚Belchen‘ organized the Celtic patterns of settlement and infrastructure of the „Basel Gasfabrik“
In spite of this significance it holds on a symbolic as well as on a practical level, and in spite of its geographical proximity, the region of Schwarzwald does not figure within the mind of the Basel population.
Does Basel see itself as the entry point to the Schwarzwald? What changes in Basel, in the infrastructure, and in the public perception, need to be introduced, to establish Basel as such as an entry point? Could the realization of a key project, for example a conference center and leisure resort which is linked to major players in Basel, ‚jump-start‘ such a connection?
What is the future of tourism on a general level for this region? Does the Schwarzwald have to redefine itself, when the last glacier of the Schwarzwald-mountains has melted, as is forecasted to happen by the year 2020? What will become of the tourist infrastructure geared to those activities, should they be recycled, or should the area be even declared as a heritage park?