Bern’s Architectural Marvels: A Tourist’s Guide to Timeless Treasures
Bern has one of the longest covered shopping avenues in Europe, spanning six kilometers. All year long, there are plenty of options for organizing a weekend getaway in Bern. Yes, because this is a city for all seasons. In the winter, when it is magically covered in snow, it is home to charming Christmas markets, ranging from the more typical ones like the Sternenmarkt to the Weihnachtsmarkt Berner Münster, which sells handmade goods. The Gurten and the city park are tinged with distinct colors throughout the intermediate seasons. The milder weather also makes it possible to see the park’s amiable residents, the bears.
The thousand-person city of Bern has managed to hold onto its traditional identity. Amidst facades, fountains, lanes, and antique towers, Bern, the federal city and capital of the same-named canton, exudes a medieval aura that permeates every aspect of the city. However, it is also vibrant and active because of the several weekly markets, some of which are quite old, like the onion market, or «Zibelemärit», which happens on the fourth Monday of November.
The recommendations are to climb the cathedral tower (101 meters) to get a unique view of the network of streets and alleys that branches out everywhere, or to enjoy a unique vantage point from the rose garden, which overlooks the bear park and allows you to embrace the bends of the Aare river with the ancient ramparts that descend steeply towards the bank.
Even if public transportation is excellent, it is preferable to walk or even ride a bike (you may use the PubliBike network in the city) if you want to truly experience the atmosphere of the historic center.
Lauben’s shadow followed us while we went shopping.
The continuous arches that shelter shoppers from the weather in Bern’s medieval town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are its defining feature. They are known as Lauben by the Bernese, and they have been there since the city’s founding (1191). Back then, they protected stores and market stalls. Shops, ateliers, taverns, and cafes still extend beneath these arcades, with some of them built in cellars featuring barrel vaults. It only takes a few steps to find a new route; in fact, the headquarters of contemporary and unique theaters, clubs, bars, cinemas, and fashion boutiques are located below ground. The Kornhauskeller, which is located close to the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) and serves traditional and modern Bernese cuisine, is one of the most beautiful cellars. Another is the Klötzlikeller, which is the oldest cellar restaurant in Bern and dates back to 1635. The Clock Tower, one of the city’s icons, is a must-see when exploring the historic center. Its astronomical clock on the east façade is an engineering marvel that comes to life every four minutes prior to the hour mark with the help of a performance including odd characters and music boxes. Following the central Kramgasse from this point will take you directly to the Nydegg Bridge and Rose Park. The Einstein House is located at 49, and the Tower of Prisons, also known as the Kafigturm, is located at the beginning of the Marktgasse, behind the clock tower.
The Mattenlift, the vertical tram
Not looking like it’s 115 years old. The district on the banks of the Aare is connected to the historic center by the “Senkeltram,” also called the “Mattenlift” (the Matte lift). Because the wealthiest and most affluent people lived at the top, the metal structure, designed by Gustave Eiffel (yep, the guy in the tower), originally functioned to indicate not only the difference in height but also the rank of the buildings. Approximately nine hundred individuals prefer to travel the thirty seconds it takes to get from the upper city to the Matte district using the antique elevator that still stands today. The port and public baths, which provided both amusement and hygienic facilities, were formerly situated in the Matte. The port and the baths are gone now, and a few small businesses have moved on. The stores, ateliers, and cafes here are the main draws. Matte English, also called “Mattenenglisch” or “Matteänglisch,” is the fifth national language. It was imported from Hamburg by Bernese raftsmen and is a hidden language.
The magnificent museum holdings: Einstein and Paul Klee
Numerous art spaces may be found in Bern, including the Communication Museum, the Swiss Alpine Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Art Museum. Buying the Museum Card, which grants free admission to all museums in Bern for 24 or 48 hours, is a very cost-effective way to save money. We suggest spending a weekend at the Historical Museum of Bern, which is located directly in front of the city’s historic center. Housed in a structure resembling a castle, it is home to one of Switzerland’s most important historical and cultural collections, of which we especially recommend the twelve exquisitely preserved Franco-Flemish tapestries from the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as the Albert Einstein section.
Original works documenting Einstein’s career, including films and essays, can be viewed on 1200 square meters.
Not to be missed is the Zentrum Paul Klee, a structure with harmonious features that blends in with the surroundings and engages in a dialogue of references with the hills beyond. It was created by architect Renzo Piano. The largest collection of paintings by Paul Klee is kept at the museum.
Verdant havens: Gurten to Bear Park
Once in the city, make time to visit local museums and stores as well as take a leisurely stroll around one of Bern’s many green areas. You can take the panoramic cable car from Wabern to the nearby Gurten mountain, which is inaccessible by automobile and can be reached in a matter of minutes. The grassy area is open to the public and provides entertainment for children, including bowls, Frisbees, a climbing frame, a miniature railway, and BBQ stations.
The Bear Park, a 6,000-square-meter forest that reaches to the banks of the Aare River and is home to some very unique residents, is another haven of urban tranquility. Be cautious as these animals hibernate in the winter. The park is free to enter and is open year-round. It features a walking walkway and an infrared webcam system to allow visitors to observe bears in their natural habitat.
Travels beyond the city to find cheese
Encircled by the Bernese Canton, Bern is a great base from which to explore the surrounding area. You can travel along the ultra-centenary line of the Sempione and the Lötschberg by train, or by bus, which is a great way to get to the city from northern Italy (actually, the BLS line connects Domodossola to Bern via Briga in about two hours and twenty minutes, with daily departures). You can see the mountains of the Bernese Oberland and the terraces of Valais through the panoramic windows. The day pass (CHF 58, also available in the 2-day format) allows you to take the boats that cross Lake Thun and get on and off whenever and wherever you like. We suggest visiting the Emmentaler Schaukäserei dairy in Affoltern if you’d like to learn the techniques behind creating a brand-proof Emmental. There, you can shop, sample cheese, go on a guided tour of the dairy, and learn about the meticulous requirements that go into creating each flawless wheel of the traditional hole-filled cheese.
Details regarding the visit
Getting there
With Eurocity trains, you can easily go to Bern in three hours, or with the Green Train of the Alps, you can get there from Domodossola in two. The Swiss Travel System provides a range of options and passes to utilize the vast transportation network of the nation. You are entitled to the Bern Ticket, which grants you free travel in zones 100 and 101 of the LIBERO fare community, including the well-known Gurtenbahn and Marzilibahn, as well as the lift for the collegiate church’s terrace. This benefit begins with your first overnight stay in the city.
