World Heritage Photos - Old City of Bern

Old City of Bern: Bern was founded in 1191. The Old City of Bern is located on a narrow hill, surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. The Old City of Bern is built on uneven ground, there is a difference of several dozen metres in height between the city districts down the Aare to the higher districts. After a fire in 1405, the original wooden buildings of the Old City of Bern were replaced by truss houses and later by the characteristic sandstone houses. Despite the fire and the construction of new buildings in the 18th century, the Old City of Bern retained its medieval character. The Zeitglockenturm or Zytglogge with its famous astronomical clock is a symbol of the city of Bern. The astronomical clock dates from the 15th century. The tower was built in the 13th century as the West Gate. Bern became the capital of Switzerland in 1848, the Federal Palace of Switzerland, an university and museums were built. The bell tower of the Bern Minster's is the highest (100 metres) tower in Switzerland. The largest bell of the Bern Minster (10.5 ton) was cast in 1611 and is also the largest bell in Switzerland. Most of the streets of the old city of Bern have arcades on both sides with shops underneath. The six km of arcades are the longest covered shopping area in Europe, a shoppers' paradise. There are over hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The 15th century arcades and 16th century fountains are an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Old City of Bern. Bern is located about 66 km from the UNESCO World Heritage: Watchmaking Towns La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. The medieval city centre of Bern was inscribed on the UNESCO WOrld Heritage List in 1983 as: Old City of Berne. World Heritage Art: The Berner Fricktreppe

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Old City of Bern - The Old City of Bern and the Aare River viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. The city of Bern was built on uneven...

The Old City of Bern and the Aare River viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. The city of Bern was built on uneven ground, there is a difference of several dozen metres in height between the city districts down the Aare River to the higher city districts, the districts are connected by the medieval Fricktreppe, the Frick Stairs, among others. The Old City of Bern is surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. The Old City of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage.

The Old City of Bern and the Aare River viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. The city of Bern was built on uneven ground, there is a difference of several dozen metres in height between the city districts down the Aare River to the higher city districts, the districts are connected by the medieval Fricktreppe, the Frick Stairs, among others. The Old City of Bern is surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. The Old City of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage.
Old City of Bern: The Rathausplatz is dominated by the Bern Rathaus, the Town Hall of Bern. The Bern Rathaus has a double staircase with decorative stone balustrades, the Rathaus was built at the Rathausplatz, the Town Square, in the period 1406-1416. Bern was founded in 1191. The city was expanded westwards along the Aare River in the 13th and 14th centuries. The city of Bern is strategically located on a narrow hill encircled by the Aare River.
Old City of Bern: The Kreuzgasse Fountain is dating from 1779. There are more than hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The public fountains were built in the 16th century as a public water supply. The 16th century fountains are an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Old City of Berne. The brown bear is the traditional symbol of Bern, a symbol of the bear appears everywhere, on flags and fountains. Even live bears are kept in the BärenPark.
Old City of Bern: The Clock Tower, the renowned Zytglogge or Zeitglockenturm, is one of the symbols of the city of Bern. The tower houses a astronomical clock, the clock dates from the 15th century. The tower was built in the 13th century as the West Gate of the city. Not far from the Zytglogge, there is a historic pharmacy dating back to 1571, it is a well-preserved example of a medieval pharmacy.
Old City of Bern: The Ryffli Fountain and the famous arcades in the Aarbergergasse, Aarberg Lane. The Ryffli Fountain (German: Ryfflibrunnen) was named after the legendary crossbowman Ryffli, considered a Swiss founding father. The statue on top of the fountain depicts Ryffli with a crossbow over his shoulder, a sword in one hand and a bear at his feet. The Ryffli Fountain is one of the hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The fountain was erected in 1545.
Old City of Bern: The French Church was built in the period 1270-1285 as a part of a monastery that was founded in 1269. The French Church is the oldest church in Bern. As of 1623, it served as a church for the French-speaking Protestants. The French Church was a refuge for Huguenots in the 17th century. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes and murals, which are worth seeing. The Old City of Bern was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1983.
Old City of Bern: The 26 fountains in front of the Swiss Bundeshaus on the Bundesplatz, the Parliament Square, represent the 26 cantons of Switzerland. The Swiss Bundeshaus, the Swiss House of Parliament, was inaugurated in 1902. The green weathered copper dome of the Swiss Bundeshaus has an external height of 64 metres. When Bern became Switzerland's capital city in 1848, the Bundeshaus, an university and several museums were built in Bern.
Old City of Bern: The construction of the Bern Cathedral started in 1421, it was fully completed in 1893 when the bell tower was added. In the meantime the Reformation took place and Bern had become protestant, the catholic cathedral became a Protestant Minster, the Bern Minster. The 100 metres high church tower of the Bern Minster is the highest tower in Switzerland. The largest bell in the Bern Minster weighs 10.5 tons and was cast in 1611, it is the largest bell in the Bern Minster and also the largest bell in Switzerland.
Old City of Bern: The most beautiful feature of the Bern Minster is the 15th century main portal, the Last Judgment Portal. The richly decorated portal depicts a biblical scene, the Last Judgment: the Archangel Michael with a flaming sword, the saved are on the bright left side, the damned on the darker right side. The unique collection of Late Gothic sculptures consists of 234 carved wood and stone statues, it is widely considered the most beautiful feature of the Bern Minster.
One of the remaining half-timbered houses in the Old City of Bern. After a fire in 1405, most of the medieval wooden buildings of Bern were replaced by half-timbered houses, also known as truss houses. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the half-timbered buildings were replaced by the present characteristic sandstone buildings. The highlights of the historic centre of Bern includes the Zytglogge, the Bern Minster, the Renaissance fountains and the covered medieval arcades.
Old City of Bern: The Stiftsgebäude on the Münsterplatz in the medieval centre of Bern. Several historic monuments are located around the Münsterplatz. On the left hand side, the entrance of the Protestant Minster, the Bern Minster. The bell tower of the Bern Minster houses seven bells, the largest bell weighs 10.5 ton, it was cast in 1611. Despite reconstructions and expansions in the 18th century, the historic centre of Bern has retained its medieval character and ambiance.
Old City of Bern: The arcades of the Münstergasse near the medieval Münsterplatz. Most of the streets in the city of Bern have arcades on both sides with restaurants and shops underneath, a true shoppers' paradise. The arcades have a total length of about six kilometers, making it the longest covered shopping area in Europe. The 15th century arcades and 16th century fountains are important parts of the UNESCO World Heritage: Old City of Bern.
Old City of Bern: The 14th century Fricktreppe, the Frick Stairs, leading to the lower part of the Old City of Bern. The staircase has 183 wooden steps. The Frick Stairs is situated close to the Münsterplatz, the Minster Terrace, and the historic monuments in the Old City of Bern. Bern is strategically situated on a narrow hill. The lower part and upper part of the city are connected by the narrow wooden Frick Stairs and a modern lift.
A row of houses in the Old City of Bern, viewed from the Münster Platform in the upper part of the city. The Münster Platform offers great views over the Old City of Bern, the Aare Valley and the lower part of the city. The lower part and the upper part Bern are connected by the wooden Frick Stairs, but also by a modern lift, the Mattelift. The lift connects the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace, with the Matte District on the banks of the Aare.
A cobbled street lined with medieval houses in the Mattequartier, a historic district in the Old City of Bern, viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. The Münster Platform was built high above the Aare between 1334-1434. The Münster Platform is a flat open area planted with trees, it offers great views over the Aare River and the Mattequartier in the Old City of Bern, it is even possible to see the Swiss Alps on clear, sunny days.