The "Leu" belongs among the most prestigious ferries on the Rhine in the Basel area. For almost 30 years, Jacques Thurneysen has worked as a ferryman, one of the oldest jobs in the city. Even the ancient Romans operated a so-called "cable ferry" in the nearby Augusta Raurica. Transportation by rope remains essentially the same today. The activity of Captain Thurneysen is characterized by great calm and tranquility. At the same time, the Fäärimaa sees an uncountable number of people and listens to their personal stories and fates, which has made him a mute chronicler of Basel.
Living on the River
A connection to nature in its most original form: Jacques Thurneysen walks everywhere barefoot and, as a person, is a fascinating "piece of nature" in the middle of the elements. The ship's wood, the waterway and the ferryman merge on the Rhine into one harmonious unit.
The Intrepreter
The ferryman has conducted thousands of people across the Rhine over the years. In speaking with his passengers, Mr. Thurneysen also proves himself to be a philosopher, as someone who understands how to interpret the people as well as the symbol of the river: When entering the ferry, a part of our lives ends, which starts once again once the shore of the Rhine has been reached.
