Before the railways were built , the Rhine was the most important trade artery in western Europe , and Basel was the principal terminal point at its southern end . Beside the transshipment jetties where merchandise was off-loaded from the boats on the northeast bank of the river , there was already a guest house , identified in 1255 as " domus zem blumen in vico crucis " " '' ( House of Flowers at the cross street ) '' " , which was probably a decade or so after the ferry crossings of the river were complemented at this point by a road bridge . However , the guest house and adjacent buildings had to be demolished after the 1356 earthquake
1356 earthquake
1356 Basel earthquake
Hotel Les Trois Rois