Old Town (Altstadt)

Bern's old town sits on a narrow hill inside a loop of the Aare, and its street plan has changed little since the Middle Ages. The city was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V of Zähringen, who chose the peninsula for its natural defences. Three long, parallel main streets, Gerechtigkeitsgasse, Kramgasse and Marktgasse, run along the spine of the hill from the Nydegg bridge toward the west, linked by small lanes. The Zytglogge clock tower and the Käfigturm, a former gate tower, mark stages in the city's expansion, and a modern shopping district lies beyond. In 1983 the old town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list, as one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe.

The character of the streets owes much to a disaster. In 1405 a great fire destroyed much of the city, which was built largely of timber, and the rebuilding was done in stone, using the pale grey-green local sandstone that gives the buildings their distinctive colour. Over the following centuries the city developed into a prosperous republic, and its patrician families built tall townhouses with arcades, steep roofs and decorated facades. The arcades, called Lauben, run for about six kilometres in total and shelter pedestrians from rain, so you can walk through the whole old town and shop without getting wet. Many of the shops are small and independent, and some occupy cellars reached by steps below street level, selling crafts, books, clothing and food.

Fountains are a feature of the main streets. Sixteenth-century figure fountains stand in the middle of the roadway at intervals, each topped with a statue and many with painted details, including a figure of an ogre eating children and a warrior with a banner. They were originally sources of drinking water and are still in use, and several are among the most photographed spots in the city. The Bern Minster, a late Gothic cathedral with the tallest tower in Switzerland, rises above the rooftops near the river, and its main portal has a remarkable scene of the Last Judgement. Climbing the tower gives a view across the old town and the Aare.

The old town is not a museum, since it houses government offices, the Federal Palace, shops, cafés, theatres and homes, and it is a lively place all year. Weekly markets fill the squares, and annual events such as the onion market in November draw crowds from across the region. Streets are mostly pedestrian or limited to trams and buses, which makes it pleasant to walk.

The easiest way to explore is on foot, starting at the railway station and walking down the main streets to the Nydegg bridge and the BärenPark, with detours to the Minster, the Zytglogge and the river. The Rosengarten, on the opposite bank, offers the classic viewpoint across the whole hill. Allow at least half a day, and a full day if you plan to visit museums. The old town suits all kinds of visitors, and there is no admission fee for walking its streets. Comfortable shoes are important because of the cobbles, and mornings are less crowded than afternoons.