Bern
Fly here
Federal capital, with a UNESCO-listed medieval old town inside a loop of the Aare.
From the basket
Bern sits inside a loop of the Aare, like a peninsula of stone. From the balloon the old town draws a long ribbon of red roofs, set on a spur that the river winds around on three sides. The main streets run along the line of the loop, lined with arcades and punctuated by fountains.
Listed as a World Heritage Site, the old town has kept its medieval layout. Its arcades cover the pavements, its fountains adorned with colourful figures mark out the streets, and two towers rise among the houses: the Clock Tower and the Prison Tower. At the edge of the loop, the Federal Palace looks towards the Alps.
In fine weather the view runs over the rooftops to the peaks of the Oberland, the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, only about thirty kilometres away. Down below, the Aare flows, green and fast.
Follow the loop of the Aare around the old town, then let yourself be carried above the arcades to the Clock Tower.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Berne” (in French).
All around
To discover around Bern
Bernese life on the River Aare
Adored by locals, the turquoise waters of the Aare provide the ultimate base for adventures of every kind.
Clock Tower (Zytglogge)
Watch the puppet play at the Zytglogge clock tower, the landmark of Bern's old town. On a guided tour, climb inside the tower and see the medieval clockwork from 1530.
Eleven Fountains
Old City of Bern
Thanks to its well-preserved medieval townscape, the Old Town of Bern was entered onto UNESCO’s listing of World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Parliament Square
The 26 fountains of the Parliament Square’s water display represent the 26 cantons of Switzerland. Sometimes in rhythm, sometimes randomly, the water sprays up to seven metres into the air. This image is quite amazing in many regards. Such a sight would be practically unthinkable in front of other seats of government.
PROGR - Cultural Production Centre
More than 150 artists from every discipline work in this studio in the heart of Bern, from graphic designers to choreographers and filmmakers. People meet here to produce art, but also to drink coffee, sell pictures and talk about books.
Round Trip on the Kambly Cookie Train
The scenic Kambly Cookie Train connects the cities of Bern and Lucerne. Along the way, stop at the show confectionary where Switzerland's favorite cookies are produced: the Kambly Experience in Trubschachen.
The Parliament Building
On your guided tour of the Parliament House in Bern, you will enter the heart of Swiss democracy: The halls where the National Council and Council of States meet. You will get to know the building and the background to everyday political life and discover amazing things.
Source: Switzerland Tourism — myswitzerland.com, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.