Old Town (Bern)


In every city, no matter where it is, there is always a place where it all began. This is the "heart" of the city, its "soul", or, as in the case of Bern , the Old City.

A bit about the Old Town

The old city in Bern is called its preserved historical part. In 1983, it was fully recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the source of the capital of Switzerland, the river Are forms a river peninsula, in the distant past the first was built the defensive fort of Nidegg, which later became the city of Bern.

Historically, the Old Town is divided into several districts and neighborhoods, where some of the craftsmen and guilds of craftsmen lived. The most famous is still the quarter of Matte, where the craftsmen and dockers lived. The population of this quarter kept their own dialect very long. Today, here are located mainly offices of architectural companies, hotels , restaurants of Swiss cuisine and nightclubs.

Earlier the most commercial area, located at the intersection of Marktgasse and Spitalgasse streets, is now a six-kilometer promenade of boutiques and shopping galleries. We can say that this is the longest store in the world, and therefore it is very convenient for shopping and buying souvenirs .

Legends of Old Bern

According to archaeologists, the first settlements appeared on the territory of modern Bern about two centuries BC, after falling under the Roman conquest. And the modern city was founded by Duke Burchthold V of the genus Zähringen in 1191.

According to legend, the young duke swore to give a name to a new city in honor of the first animal that will meet him on the hunt. And these animals were a brown bear. Thus, Bern's name in transcription and its heraldry have a very serious explanation.

Sights of the Old Town

If you were lucky enough to visit Switzerland , like many tourists you are unlikely to leave the country without having made at least one quick tour of the capital of the country Bern . Well, all the main and most ancient, significant and amazing sights are located on the territory of the Old City.

The center of religious greatness and trembling can be considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture - the Cathedral of Bern , the highest in the country. One of the most extensive attractions are the fortress walls with two towers that have survived to this day: the prison (Kefigturm) and the clock ( Citiglogge ). In the territory where once the fort was once standing there is the Nidegga church. At the Lower Gate the oldest bridge of the city is preserved, it bears the proud name of the Stone Bridge.

By the Old City of Bern you can walk indefinitely. Walking and excursions in the center of the capital I immerse you in the Middle Ages, because here is well preserved image of a long time ago. Compact houses built in the Baroque style, arcades, stone-paved streets. It is here that the famous and historically valuable fountains of the 16th century still stand and work: the Banner of Fountain, the Samson Fountain , "Moses" , "Justice" . Special significance brings Bear's pit , in which, incidentally, live and two toptigina from Russia.

Do not rush to go back to the hotel, you can appreciate all the beauty of the time and rethink it at a table in a local cafe or enjoy a real Swiss cake in a pastry shop.

How to get to the Old City of Bern?

On the territory of the peninsula, within the bend of the river Ar, public transport is very well developed. Here one of the numerous bus routes to No. 10, 12, 19, 30, M2, M3, M4, M15 and M91 will bring you here. Also in the Old Town there are trams, their numbers are 6, 7, 8, 9.