Münsterplattform Café

The Münsterplattform, the Minster Terrace, is a broad, tree-shaded terrace behind Bern Cathedral, the Münster, high above the Aare River. It is one of the best-loved open spaces in Bern’s Old Town and one of the easiest places to take in the city’s setting. The terrace stands on a platform about thirty metres above the river, supported by a tall retaining wall, and it looks across the Aare to the green slopes on the far bank, the roofs of the Matte quarter below and, on clear days, the Alps beyond.

The platform has a long history. The ground behind the cathedral was a cemetery in the Middle Ages, and the platform was extended and supported by a great retaining wall in the early 16th century, creating the terrace seen today. Over time it became a promenade lined with chestnut trees, and it has been a place for walking and sitting ever since. A local legend tells of a student named Theobald Weinzäpfli who, in the 17th century, was thrown from his horse over the wall and survived the fall; a plaque and fountain recall the story, and the Bernese have long enjoyed it.

Today the terrace is a gathering place in every season. In summer, people eat lunch on benches, play Boule or table tennis, or sprawl on the grass with a book, and the shade of the chestnuts keeps the platform cool. In the evening it is a popular spot to meet before heading out. Though the name suggests a café, the terrace is first of all an open public space, and most people bring their own food and drink; nearby cafés and restaurants in the lanes of the Old Town offer seating if you want to sit down with a coffee, though their opening hours differ. There are no entry fees, and the terrace is open at all hours.

Getting down to the river is easy by the Mattelift, an old public lift that carries people from the terrace to the Matte quarter at the foot of the cliff, and it is worth a ride for the view. From the Matte you can walk along the Aare or continue to the Bear Park. The cathedral tower is next door and gives a higher view over the whole Old Town for those who want to climb, and the Rosengarten and Kleine Schanze give other viewpoints on the same landscape.

It suits families, couples, photographers and visitors who want a restful place to pause after walking the Old Town. Sunset on a clear day is a good time to go, when the light turns the roofs golden.