Airport where three countries intersect: How's this possible?

Technically, this is an airport where you can land in three countries at once. And it's the only such place on Earth. It is located at the intersection of the borders of France, Switzerland, and Germany.

The international EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg serves not only three cities at once but also three countries, and it is considered the gateway to the trinational region.

Its location is a bit confusing because, geographically, it is situated on French territory, but France, Switzerland manage it, and its board also includes members from Germany. From this airport, you can immediately enter two countries.

A bird's-eye view of the EuroAirport of three countries (photo: Wikipedia)

The airport consists of two parts: the French and the Swiss sections, each with its own customs post. The terminal also has a border checkpoint that allows passengers to access both countries.

This arrangement allows passengers to move between the two countries without necessarily going through customs at the French border.

Both Swiss and French police are present at the airport, each responsible for security checks and customs for their respective countries. However, the French police have the right to conduct random checks in the Swiss section, and they are also responsible for overall security.

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (photo: Wikipedia)

The airport is located in the Alsatian commune of Saint-Louis, which is part of the Basel Trinational Eurodistrict, a cross-border platform consisting of an association of cities and municipalities from France, Germany, and Switzerland.

From this airport, passengers can easily travel to nearby cities, with Basel in Switzerland being just 5 miles away, Freiburg in Germany 43 miles away, and Mulhouse in France 15 miles away. Regular bus services run to each city, and you can also drive there without going through customs.

Basel in Switzerland (photo: Wikipedia)

There is plenty to do in the surrounding area: the picturesque Black Forest in Germany, charming towns of Alsace known for their wine routes, and half-timbered houses.

35 miles from the airport is the city of Colmar, often called the "capital of Alsace wine." It has a lot of medieval architecture, picturesque canals and colourful timber houses.

Mulhouse in France (photo: Wikipedia)

The airport was founded in 1946, and its management was initially split between two countries. When it was established, it was intended to become a symbol of international cooperation, which became very important after World War II.

Now, over 25 airlines from all over the world fly to this airport, and it operates more than 100 flights to 30 countries worldwide.

Freiburg in Germany (photo: Wikipedia)

Apart from its interesting location and unusual confusion, there are other things that attract tourists: its large size, about 1.4 million square feet, which hosts not only the airport itself but also many restaurants, duty-free shops, and other services. In the sales points, both euros and Swiss francs are accepted.

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