Clock Tower (Zytglogge)

The Zytglogge is the medieval clock tower in the middle of Bern's old town, and it is probably the most photographed monument in the city. The name is Bernese German for time bell. It stands on the main axis of the old town, where Marktgasse turns into Kramgasse, and it was originally built in the early thirteenth century as the western gate of the young city, which at that time ended here. As Bern expanded westward, the gate lost its defensive role and was used for other purposes, including as a prison, before it became a clock tower. After a major fire in 1405 the tower was rebuilt, and the clock was installed in the sixteenth century, with later changes to the design and decoration.

The tower is best known for its astronomical clock and the mechanical show that goes with it. A few minutes before each hour, a procession begins on the side of the tower facing Kramgasse: a jester rings small bells, a line of bears marches in a circle, and a rooster crows, then the figure of Chronos, the god of time, turns an hourglass, while an armoured figure strikes the large bell on the hour. Crowds gather in the street to watch, and the show draws visitors at all times of the year, particularly on the hour at midday. The clock face also shows the date, the position of the sun and moon, and the signs of the zodiac, making it a complex instrument for its time.

An anecdote often told in Bern says that Albert Einstein, who lived in the city and worked at the patent office in the early 1900s, was inspired to think about time and simultaneity while walking past the clock. Einstein lived on Kramgasse, a short way down the street, and his apartment is now a museum, so the clock and the physicist are linked in local lore, although the story should be taken as a pleasant tradition rather than documented fact.

You can also see the inside of the tower on guided tours, which take visitors up into the clockwork and to the platform at the top. The tour explains how the movement works, with its large wheels, weights and levers, and the rooms show the thick stone walls of the original gate. At the top you can see the red roofs of the old town, the Aare and, on clear days, the Alps. Tours must usually be booked in advance and have limited places, so check the details with Bern tourism. The stairs are steep and narrow and the climb is not suitable for everyone.

The tower sits within the arcaded streets of the old town, so it is easy to combine with a walk along Kramgasse, a visit to the Einstein house and the cathedral, and the Rosengarten. It suits all ages, particularly families with children who enjoy the figures. The area is busiest at midday and in the afternoon, and quieter in the morning, when the street is calm and you can see the tower without a crowd.