Bern Photo Gallery

I originally didn't include Bern on my grand Switzerland itinerary, but I had budgeted an extra day in the western part of the country in case of weather disappointments. After a sunny few days in Geneva, Lausanne, and Montreux, the clouds rolled so I decided to do more urban or indoor exploration rather than venture up a mountain. With a Swiss Travel Pass on hand, I was quite flexible on where to go. After spending the morning in Gruyeres, I arrived in Bern for the afternoon. From the railway station, I easily started my walk into the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site tat is wedged on 3 sides by the Aare River. Heiliggeistkirche is the country's finest Protestant church, dating from the early 18th century. From here, I walked down the arcaded Spitalgasse, which turns into Marktgasse, laid out in the 13th century and now a major shopping area. Bern is famous for its numerous colourful fountains, once meeting markers for locals. Apparently, there are 217 of these in the Old Town. The water supply comes from the creek, feeding the wooden fountains which were replaced with stone. The Pfeiferbrunnen (Bagpiper) Fountain dates from the mid-16th century. The musician is playing his instrument with a golden goose and monkey to celebrate life, music, good food, and more. Barenplatz is named after a bear pit that was once here. The Prison Tower was once the town gate until 1350, used as a prison from 163-1897, and now a meeting and exhibition venue. The arcaded streets make window shopping a lot more pleasant as a drizzle persisted. Being Switzerland's capital since 1848, Bern is a surprisinly small town. Completed in 1902, the Bundeshaus is home to the Federal Assembly and serves as the country's parliament. At the back side, a funicular takes visitors downhill to the Aare riverbank. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Old Town ... The Cathedral of St. Vincent dates from the early 15th century and has the highest church spire in the country. At the time, Bern was the largest city state north of the Alps and residents wanted a grand church to match its status. A short climb later, I reached the viewing platform for a panoramic view of the town.