Let’s take a leisurely stroll, and along the way we’ll explore all the important events in the 800+ year history of the main city of the Confederacy.
Let’s start with the bear holes. Having willingly believed in the legend that their hometown was named after a bear, the Bernese have been careful to keep their living symbols with them from the Middle Ages to the present day. The biography of bears is another confirmation of a curious statistical fact – every 5th person in this country is a foreigner. So, the inhabitants of Berengraben came to Switzerland from abroad…
After admiring the swift current of the Aare, we bypass the bridge to reach the walls of the Nidegg Church. It was here, at the end of the 12th century, that Berthold IV Zaringen began building the city. After a short ascent we reach the oldest street in Bern: straight rows of houses, tiled roofs, famous arcades and one of the famous fountains of the 16th century. The old town hall with its fascinating history, the oldest pharmacy and the buildings of the former guilds are nearby. Stop by the stone parapet to see the beautiful panorama of the old town and the view of the river. Here the stories of Bern’s ghosts come to mind at once. Over there, look, is the house where spirits often appear.
Sit on a bench under the arches of the city’s main temple, and I’ll tell you about how the building was built and its fascinating past and present. If you have enough energy, we’ll walk together up the stairs to the observation deck in the main tower. The height and the feeling of flight take your breath away. Brick roofs underfoot, turquoise curve of the river, and on the horizon – the snow-white chain of the Alps.
Another historic street and on our way are the fountains, each with its own curious history. It’s impossible to pass by the windows of funny little stores, and of course we will stop near the building, marked with a sign “Einstein Museum”. And finally, right in front of us – the real symbol of Bern – the clock with the unique mechanism and another important evidence of the long history of Bern.
After a turn of the street, we are near the facades of the houses of the 19th and 20th centuries. Here you can find a theater, a concert hall, a prestigious hotel, and several banks.
I will advise you where to taste the culinary delicacies of Bern and show you the favorite cafes and pastry shops of the locals. Now, even if it was not in your plans to stay longer in this city, you can be absolutely sure that your first personal acquaintance with the Swiss capital has taken place.
A list of the main sights we will see
Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Ghost)
Town Hall (Rathaus)
Chuch of St.Peter and Paul
Zytglogge (Clock Tower) and Käfigturm (Prison Tower) -medieval towers
Bern Minster and Münster Plattform (Minster Terrace) -viewing point
Bärengraben (Bear Pit)
Nydeggbrücke (Nydegg bridge) and Untertor bridge
Rose Garten (Rosengarten)
Bundeshaus (Federal Palace) and Bundesplatz (Federation Square)
Einsteinhaus (Einstein House)
11 Renaissance allegorical statues on fountains
Stadttheater Bern (Bern Theatre) and Great Granary (Grosses Kornhaus)
Noble city buildings and residences
