Looking Ahead: What November 2026 Has in Store
November 1, 2026
The data highlights two significant historical events connected to Basel that occurred in November. The first, from 1546, marks Johann Rudolf Wettstein's journey on 28 November as a delegate of the reformed Swiss cantons to the peace congress in Westphalia, where he secured recognition of the Swiss Confederacy's autonomy from the German Empire. This event is now 480 years in the past, and further information can be found at the provided Wikipedia link. The second event, from 1849, records the opening of the museum building on Augustinergasse, now the Natural History Museum, on 26 November after five years of construction. This building was the largest work in Basel by architect Melchior Berri, and the event took place 177 years ago, with additional details available through the altbasel.ch link.
The following tables present notable Basel personalities whose birth or death anniversaries fall in the current month, along with a selection of events that are upcoming or ongoing. The event list is derived from an opendata-bs dataset on events and holidays/vacation days relevant to traffic, and does not represent a complete overview of all events taking place in Basel this month.
Table 1: Birthday Date of notable Figures from Basel for November
| Person | Birthday | Description | Years Ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johann Caspar Lavater | 1741-11-15 | Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) was a Swiss poet, philosopher, and theologian, best known for his work in physiognomy, particularly his influential publication "Physiognomische Fragmente." Although born in Zürich, Lavater's impact extended to Basel, where his ideas on character analysis through facial features resonated with intellectual circles. His later years were marked by controversy and ridicule, culminating in his death following an incident during the French occupation of Switzerland. worked in Basel | 285 |
| Carl Meissner | 1800-11-01 | Carl Daniel Friedrich Meissner (1800–1874) was a prominent Swiss botanist who served as a Professor of Botany at the University of Basel for most of his 40-year career. He made significant contributions to botanical literature, notably through his work "Plantarum Vascularum Genera" and various monographs on plant families, while also extensively describing Australian flora. Meissner spent his later years in Basel, where he passed away in 1874. died in Basel | 226 |
| Hans Grieder | 1901-11-12 | Hans Grieder (12 November 1901 – 31 October 1995) was a Swiss gymnast from Basel who represented Switzerland in the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics. His contributions to the sport of artistic gymnastics are notable, particularly in the context of his hometown's rich athletic tradition. born in Basel | 125 |
| Erasmus von Rotterdam | 1466-11-06 | Desiderius Erasmus, born around 1466 in Rotterdam, was a pivotal figure of the Northern Renaissance and a major influence on Western culture, particularly through his scholarly work on the New Testament and Church Fathers. His extensive writings, which included critiques of the Church and advocacy for reform, were widely circulated and significantly impacted both the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. Although closely associated with Rotterdam, Erasmus spent much of his life in various European cities, yet his early education and formative experiences in the Netherlands, including his time in Gouda, laid the groundwork for his later intellectual contributions. worked in Basel | 560 |
| Hannes Meyer | 1889-11-18 | Hans Emil "Hannes" Meyer, born in Basel, Switzerland, was a prominent architect and the second director of the Bauhaus Dessau from 1928 to 1930. He is known for his radical functionalist approach to architecture, emphasizing social needs and low-cost designs, which he applied in projects like the housing estate "Freidorf" near Basel and the Laubenganghäuser in Dessau. After his dismissal from the Bauhaus, Meyer continued his architectural career in the Soviet Union and later in Mexico, before returning to Switzerland, where he passed away in 1954. born in Basel | 137 |
| Johann III Bernoulli | 1744-11-04 | Johann III Bernoulli, born in Basel on November 4, 1744, was a renowned Swiss mathematician and philosopher, celebrated as a child prodigy. He studied in Basel and earned multiple degrees by the age of fourteen before becoming the astronomer royal of Berlin, where he reorganized the Berlin Academy's observatory. A significant figure in the Bernoulli family legacy, he contributed to various fields and maintained connections to Basel throughout his illustrious career. born in Basel | 282 |
| Lisa Tetzner | 1894-11-10 | Lisa Tetzner was a German-born Swiss children's book writer, born on November 10, 1894, in Zittau, Saxony, and later becoming a Swiss citizen after fleeing to Switzerland with her husband, Kurt Held, in 1933 to escape the Nazis. Her notable works, including "Die schwarzen Brüder" and the "Children From No. 67" series, reflect her socialist ideals and gained popularity in East Germany, despite facing censorship in Switzerland during World War II. Tetzner's literary contributions are significant in the context of Swiss literature, particularly in Basel, where her experiences and writings resonate with themes of social justice and resilience. worked in Basel | 132 |
| Franz Overbeck | 1837-11-16 | Franz Camille Overbeck (1837–1905) was a Russian-born German theologian who significantly impacted theological discourse while teaching at the University of Basel from 1870 until his retirement. Known for his critical work "How Christian is Our Present-Day Theology?", Overbeck challenged both conservative and liberal theological perspectives, arguing for the impossibility of a coherent Christian theology. His friendship with Friedrich Nietzsche during their time in Basel profoundly influenced both their works, and Overbeck remained a steadfast supporter of Nietzsche until the latter's death. died in Basel | 189 |
| Dani Levy | 1957-11-17 | Dani Levy, born on November 17, 1957, in Switzerland, is a notable filmmaker and theatrical director whose Jewish heritage and family history, including a Holocaust survivor mother, have influenced his work. Although he moved to Berlin in the 1980s, his Swiss roots remain significant, particularly in his exploration of Jewish identity in films like "Alles auf Zucker!" and "Mein Führer." Levy's connection to Basel is underscored by his Swiss upbringing, which shaped his artistic perspective and storytelling. born in Basel | 69 |
Table 2: Death Anniversaries of Notable Figures from Basel in November
| Person | Day of Death | Description | Years Ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Markowitsch Ostrowski | 1986-11-20 | Alexander Markowich Ostrowski was a Ukrainian mathematician who became a prominent figure in the field of algebra and number theory. After studying under notable mathematicians in Germany, he joined the University of Basel in 1928 as a Professor of Mathematics, where he taught until his retirement in 1958. Ostrowski continued to contribute to mathematical research well into his late eighties, solidifying his connection to Basel as a center of his academic career. worked in Basel | 40 |
| Johanna von Pfirt | 1351-11-23 | Joanna of Pfirt, born around 1300 in Basel, was the Countess of Pfirt and later became the Duchess of Austria through her marriage to Duke Albert II. As an heiress, she played a crucial role in expanding Habsburg territories, including significant lands in Alsace, and was known for her political acumen, mediating peace between powerful dynasties. Joanna's legacy continued through her children, including Leopold III, Duke of Austria, and she is remembered for her contributions to the Habsburg dynasty and her connection to Basel. born in Basel | 675 |
| Rudolf Borissowitsch Barschai | 2010-11-02 | Rudolf Borisovich Barshai (1924–2010) was a prominent Soviet and Russian conductor and violist, known for his interpretations and arrangements of works by Shostakovich and Prokofiev. He was a founding member of the Borodin Quartet and later established the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, leading it until his emigration in 1977. Barshai spent his later years in Switzerland near Basel, where he was buried, and his legacy continues through various tributes, including a biographical film and an international strings competition named in his honor. died in Basel | 16 |
| Wolfgang Borchert | 1947-11-20 | Wolfgang Borchert was a German author and playwright, born in Hamburg in 1921, whose experiences during World War II profoundly shaped his literary voice, particularly in the context of the Trümmerliteratur movement. His most renowned work, *Draußen vor der Tür* (The Man Outside), reflects the trauma of returning soldiers and was notably written during his time in Basel, where he sought medical treatment before his untimely death in 1947. Borchert's poignant exploration of humanity and suffering continues to resonate, making him a significant figure in post-war German literature. died in Basel | 79 |
| Johann Jakob Bachofen | 1887-11-25 | Johann Jakob Bachofen (1815–1887) was a Swiss jurist and anthropologist who served as a professor of Roman law at the University of Basel from 1841 to 1844. He is best known for his influential work "Das Mutterrecht," which explored prehistoric matriarchy and posited that motherhood was foundational to human society and culture. Born into a prominent Basel family, Bachofen's legacy continues to resonate in the fields of anthropology and feminist studies, and he is buried in Basel, where his contributions to cultural evolution and family history have left a lasting impact. born in Basel | 139 |
| Nikolaus I Bernoulli | 1759-11-29 | Nicolaus Bernoulli, born on October 20, 1687, in Basel, was a prominent Swiss mathematician from the renowned Bernoulli family. He graduated from the University of Basel and later returned to hold a chair in Logics there after studying in Padua, contributing significantly to probability theory and differential equations. His legacy includes influential correspondence with notable figures like Pierre Rémond de Montmort and the introduction of the St. Petersburg Paradox, before he passed away in Basel on November 29, 1759. born in Basel | 267 |
| Wolfgang Capito | 1541-11-04 | Wolfgang Fabricius Capito (c. 1478 – November 1541) was a German Protestant reformer closely associated with Basel, where he served as the cathedral preacher of Basel Minster starting in 1516. During his time in Basel, he engaged with prominent figures like Zwingli and Luther, advocating for the publication of Luther's works and contributing to the early reformed faith. After leaving Basel for Mainz and later Strasbourg, Capito became a key leader in the reformation, focusing on unity among differing Protestant factions. worked in Basel | 485 |
| Marc Allégret | 1973-11-03 | Marc Allégret, born on December 22, 1900, in Basel, Switzerland, was a prominent French screenwriter and film director who significantly influenced the film industry. Initially trained as a lawyer, he shifted to filmmaking after documenting a trip to the Congo with André Gide, leading to a successful career where he helped launch the careers of many notable actors. Throughout his life, Allégret maintained a connection to his birthplace, Basel, while contributing to the cinematic landscape with over fifty films. born in Basel | 53 |
| Meret Oppenheim | 1985-11-15 | Meret Oppenheim (1913–1985) was a German-born Swiss Surrealist artist whose work was significantly influenced by her early experiences in Basel, where she had her first solo exhibition in 1936. After returning to Basel in 1937, she faced an artistic block but later became involved with the Gruppe 33 and participated in exhibitions at Kunstmuseum Basel. Oppenheim's most famous piece, "Object," which she created in Paris, became emblematic of her struggle with public perception and artistic identity, yet her connection to Basel remained a pivotal part of her artistic journey. worked in Basel | 41 |
| Wilhelm His Jr. | 1934-11-10 | Wilhelm His Jr. (1863–1934) was a Swiss cardiologist and anatomist known for discovering the bundle of His, crucial for the heart's electrical impulse transmission, while he was connected to Basel through his Swiss heritage. Later a professor in Berlin, he contributed significantly to understanding the heartbeat's cellular origins. His legacy includes the naming of Werner–His disease and the Angle of His, highlighting his impact on medical science. born in Basel | 92 |
Table 3: What’s On in Basel in November
Data source:
wikidata,
altbasel.ch,
Veranstaltungen mit potenziellem Einfluss auf Veloverkehr
🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.