When the Czech Republic arrived Monday at its European Championship base, it was a sort of homecoming.

Seefeld, a resort town in the western province of Tirol which is surrounded by the rocky peaks of the Alps, has been a reliable safe haven for Czech teams in the past.

The Czechs were based in Seefeld ahead of Euro 2000, and they returned under coach Karel Bruckner when he took over from Josef Chovanec after the Czech Republic failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

"It’s an ideal place for us," Bruckner has said.

Ahead of Euro 2004, Bruckner brought the team to Seefeld and the team went on to reach the semifinals in Portugal, losing to eventual champion Greece in extra time. After the Czech Republic qualified for its first World Cup as an independent nation, Seefeld was again selected to host the team’s preparation for the 2006 tournament in Germany.

The last time they came, Bruckner was seeking quiet refuge to ready his squad before a decisive Euro 2008 qualifier against Germany in October 2007. The Czechs went on to beat the Germans 3-0 in Munich to secure a spot at the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

"I’m here for the fourth time," Czech Republic striker Jan Koller said ahead of the team’s first training session later Monday. "I like the place very much. The conditions in the hotel and the pitch are fine. … We’ve gotten used to it."

Goalkeeper Petr Cech agreed.

"We find ourselves in the environment we know very well," Cech said. "We’ve got good memories of being here."

At Euro 2008, Seefeld has a new significance for the Czechs. The training camp was upgraded to be a base for the event — even though the Czech Republic will play all three of its Group A matches in neighboring Switzerland. The Czechs, who beat Lithuania 2-0 and Scotland 3-1 in warm-up matches last week, will open its Euro 2008 campaign on Saturday against co-host Switzerland in Basel before facing Turkey and Portugal in Geneva.

"It’s an honor for us to open the tournament," Koller said.

The medical services in Basel will work closely with their counterparts from the German town of Lorrach to ensure first-class care for visitors attending UEFA EURO 2008™.

Maiden collaboration
As part of this transnational collaboration – the first of its kind – data will be shared between Basel’s University and St Clara hospitals and the one in Lorrach, while border crossings have been made easier for ambulances during EURO to guarantee the best medical attention for those in need. Should this co-operation prove successful, it could be expanded after the tournament.

Emergency number
In addition, Basel’s two hospitals have taken steps to make it easier to register and treat guests from outside the European Union via a system which had previously eased only transnational processes within the EU. Visitors should be aware that there is a free emergency telephone number to reach a doctor around the clock – +41 844 4357 08.

Location of the fan camps
The fan camp sites are scattered throughout the Basel agglomeration. They have good transport infrastructure, and can be reached using a variety of public transport services. The fan camps are located in parks, yet are still close to the action. Information about fancamps and reservation here.
Fan Camp Aesch
The Fan Camp Aesch can be reached by tram (line 11) or individually by car via the autobahn A2 and H18. The tram stop is located in the immediate vicinity of the fan camp. The approach roads are well-indicated. The parking space is located immediately alongside the mass parking area. Persons who arrive by car may park their vehicles on the mass car park area. The approach route is identical to that of the parking area access road.
Fan Camp Pratteln
The Fan Camp in Pratteln is also located outside the village in the vicinity of the autobahn junc-tion A2/A3. The Fan Camp can be reached with ease by private travellers from all directions via the autobahn exit Liestal, as well as by suburban railway (stop Salina Raurica or Haltestelle Pratteln). The Fan Camp and the city centre can also be reached without difficulty using the bus (line 70).
Fan Camp Bubendorf
The Fan Camp Liestal/Bubendorf is located immediately behind the public viewing “9th Stadium” and the mass parking area. A large number of parking spaces are available, The route is indi-cated from the autobahn A2. The site is linked to the public transport network via the Swiss rail-ways, the Waldenburger railway or by bus (line 70).
Basel: travelling to the fan boulevard
Location of fan boulevard and public viewing
During EURO 2008, a fan boulevard will extend through Basel between the two railway stations Basel SBB and Badischer Bahnhof DB. This will pass through the picturesque Old Town and across the River Rhine. It is here that fans from throughout Europe will meet to celebrate EURO 2008 collectively. The central elements of the fan boulevard are the three fan zones at Minster Square, at the site of the Historic Barracks, and along the banks of the River Rhine. Giant screens will be set up here to show all EURO 2008 matches.
The so-called 9th Stadium is located in Liestal/Bubendorf. This public viewing, which is relatively removed from Basel, yet nevertheless highly attractive will also show all EUR 2008 football matches on a large screen. The public viewing is served by a good transport infrastructure.
Arrival
No public parking spaces are available to visitors of the fan boulevard in the city centre. In addi-tion, the general area of the fan boulevard will be blocked to road traffic. This means traffic con-gestion can be expected. For this reason visitors are recommended to walk or use public trans-port to reach the fan boulevard. All public transport stops are located in the immediate vicinity of the fan boulevard
How to reach the fan boulevard:
From Bahnhof Basel SBB: ­ by foot from the railway station.
From Badischer Bahnhof DB: ­ by foot from the railway station
From the Stadium: ­ tram line 10 or 14 to Bankverein or Messeplatz
From the coach parking areas (C + S): ­ Tram line to Bankverein or Messeplatz
From the coach parking area (W): ­ Tram line 14 to Bankverein or Messeplatz
From the parking site Pratteln: ­ Suburban railway line S1 to Bahnhof Basel SBB, weiter zu Fuss
From the parking site Aesch: ­ Tram line 11
From the fan boulevard the entire territory of the city can be reached with ease by bicycle. Additional bike stands will also be made available.
How to reach the 9th Stadium:
From Basel / Liestal            
­ by rail from Basel to Liestal. From Liestal by Waldenburgerbahn to Bad Bubendorf directly to the public viewing                        
­ by bus (line 70) from Basel / Liestal to Bad Bubendorf directly to the public viewing
- by car (directions provided from A2 Sissach)

Return journey
During EURO 2008, suburban railway lines and trams will continue to operate throughout the night in the Basel region. This additional public transport service will enable you to return home or to your hotel at night following the closure of the fan zones. From 6 to 29 June 2008 there will be no additional charge for the night service on the night-time network of the public transport as-sociation Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (TNW); a valid ticket will suffice.
Information regarding the timetable of the Basel night network (train, tram and bus) is available here .
Poss. ticket (UEFA) for travel to the fan zone
Your fan boulevard ticket
Special-price public transport tickets are available for visitors to the fan boulevard who do not have EURO 2008 match tickets:
Journey to/from another Swiss city:
Host City Ticket to Basel. Further information here
Journey from/to destination within the Basel region:
TNW one-day travel card. Further information here