Old City of Bern

Old City of Bern

The Old City of Bern was built on a hill surrounded by the Aare River in the 12th century and became the capital of Switzerland in 1848. The architecture of the Old City of Bern reflects the changes of history. The city preserves the elegant 16th-century arcaded walkways and fountains. The main structures of this medieval town were rebuilt in the 18th century and have retained their original historical appearance. Bern is both urban and rural-like, quite peaceful and rarely noisy; it lacks glitzy nightlife but is filled with lush green spaces.

Bern is known as the City of Fountains, with many fountains located in the middle of the streets in the urban area, most of which were built in the 16th century. Among them, the most outstanding is the Justice Fountain on Gerechtigkeitsgasse. The Zytglogge clock tower on Kramgasse is world-famous. At the top of each hour, little mechanical figures emerge from the clock face and strike the two bells above with hammers. The clock’s mechanism was made in Switzerland in the 16th century, remains well-maintained to this day, and still functions perfectly.

The entire road system of Bern is constructed from cut gray stone slabs, sometimes (in the grinding layers) exhibiting a light green hue. The streets are lined with arcades, while church spires and bell towers, flower-adorned fountains, houses with turrets, sloping roofs, and public gardens form a harmonious architectural landscape, most of which dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Old City of Berne

Must-visit reason: One of the world’s most famous cities of fountains

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Switzerland[Switzerland]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Canton of Bern [Canton of Bern]

City where the attraction is located: Berne [Berne]