Sights in Bern
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Zytglogge
Called Zeitglockenturm in High German, it was once part of the city's western gate (1191-1256). It's reminiscent of the Astronomical Clock in Prague's old town square in that crowds congregate to watch it chime - and then wonder why. The clock's revolving figures begin twirling at four minutes before the hour, after which the actual chimes begin. Tours enter the tower to see the clock mechanism between May and October (contact the tourist office).
It's said the clock tower helped Albert Einstein hone his theory of relativity, developed while working as a patent clerk in Bern. The great scientist surmised, while travelling on a tram away from the tower, that if the tram we…
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Einstein Haus
The world’s most famous scientist developed his special theory of relativity in Bern in 1905. Find out more at the small museum inside the humble apartment where Einstein lived with his young family between 1903 and 1905 while working as a low-paid clerk in the Bern patent office. Multimedia displays now flesh out the story of the subsequent general equation – E=mc², or energy equals mass times the speed of light squared – which fundamentally changed our understanding of space, time and the universe. Upstairs, a 20-minute biographical film tells his life story.
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Berner Münster
The high point of the 15th-century Gothic cathedral Berner Münster is its lofty spire. At 100m, it’s Switzerland’s tallest, and those with enough energy to climb the dizzying 344-step spiral staircase are rewarded with vertiginous views of the Bernese Alps on a clear day. Coming down, take a breather by the Upper Bells (1356), rung at 11am, noon and 3pm daily, and the three Lower Bells, each weighing 10 tonnes, making them Switzerland’s largest bells.
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Bärengraben
Bern sounds like it has something to do with bears, and indeed it does. Founded in 1191 by Berthold V, a powerful Duke of Zähringen, the city derived its name from his first hunting success in the area - a bear, or Bär in the local dialect. Today, there are still Bärengraben in the city, where five animals live. They're very cute and undoubtedly well cared for, but animal lovers might not approve.
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Houses of Parliament
The 1902 Houses of Parliament, home of the Swiss Federal Assembly, are impressively ornate, with statues of the nation's founding fathers, a stained-glass dome adorned with cantonal emblems and a huge, 214-bulb chandelier. Tours are offered when the parliament is in recess, otherwise you can watch from the public gallery. Bring a passport.
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Decorative Fountains
Built around 1545, this series of 11 Bern landmarks all depict characters from history and/or folklore and are concentrated along Marktgasse as it becomes Kramgasse and Gerechtigkeitsgasse. However, the most famous lies in Kornhausplatz; it's the Kindlifresserbrunnen (Ogre Fountain), which depicts a giant, snacking…on children.
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Bundeshäuser
Home of the Swiss Federal Assembly, the Bundeshäuser, built in Florentine style in 1902, contain statues of the nation’s founding fathers, a stained-glass dome adorned with cantonal emblems and a 214-bulb chandelier. During parliamentary sessions, watch from the public gallery. Bring your passport to get in.
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Münster Plattform
This small patch of parkland drops away suddenly into a steep cliff, and you need the public lift (admission around CHF2) in the corner to travel down to Badgasse and the Matte (www.matte.ch in German) area on the river plain below. In good weather, a café on the platform serves coffee, cake and hot chocolate.
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Stade de Suisse
Bern’s 32,000-seat Stade de Suisse, built over the demolished Wankdorf Stadium (host to the 1954 World Cup final), northeast of the Old Town, is home to the local Young Boys team and hosts international matches.
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Bear Pits
Just across the Aare River are the Bear Pits. Though bears have been the entertainment at this site since 1857, it's really depressing to see such majestic beasts doing tricks for treats in such a cramped, concrete environment.
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University Botanical Garden
A flight of steps leads from the northern end of Lorrainebrücke to the UniversityBotanical Garden, a riverside garden with plenty of green specimens to admire and a couple of greenhouses.
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Kunstmuseum
The permanent collection at the Kunstmuseum includes works by Italian artists such as Fra Angelico, Swiss artists like Ferninand Hodler and others like Picasso and Dali.
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Münster
The unmistakably Gothic, 15th-century cathedral Münster is worth stepping into. It features imposing, 12m-high, stained-glass windows and an elaborate main portal.
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Schweizerisches Alpines Museum
The Schweizerisches Alpines Museum outlines the history of Alpine mountaineering and cartography with the help of impressive relief maps.
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Zentrum Paul Klee
Bern’s answer to the Guggenheim, the fabulous Zentrum Paul Klee is an eye-catching 150m-long building filled with popular modern art.
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Naturhistorisches Museum
The mounted moth-eaten remains of famous Barry, a St Bernard rescue dog, steal the show at the Naturhistorisches Museum.
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Zeitglockenturm
The Zeitglockenturm, dividing Marktgasse and Kramgasse, is a colourful clock tower with revolving figures that herald the chiming hour.
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Museum für Kommunikation
The Museum für Kommunikation houses items from antique phones and stamps to electronic communication devices.
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Rosengarten
Up the hill from the tourist office and bear pits is the fragrant Rosengarten, where the view over the town is stupendous.
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Zentrum Paul Klee
Bern’s answer to the Guggenheim, the fabulous Zentrum Paul Klee is an eye-catching 150m-long building filled with popular modern art.
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Bern Historical Museum
Tapestries, diptychs and other world treasures vividly illustrate Bernese history from the Stone Age to the 20th century in the marvellous Bern Historical Museum. Part of the history museum is devoted to a superb permanent exhibition on Einstein.
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