Lällekönig
Schifflände 1, Basel 4051 - Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)61 268 68 68
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The Lällekönig was, in 1640, mounted on the fortified gate, which was at the Grossbasel (Schifflände) end of the Mittlere Bridge. It was a mechanically operated head with a multi-pointed crown and beard, which rolled its eyes and stuck its tongue out at regular intervals. It is said that this demonstrated the scorn of wealthy merchants for their working class Kleinbasel neighbours across the bridge! Whilst the gate was demolished in 1839, the original Lällekönig is in the Basel History Museum in the Barfüsserkirche (see separate entry) and you can see a static replica above the entrance to the Churrasco restaurant.
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