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    Tourist Attractions in Bern

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Bern. Photos and a brief description.

    Bern
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    About Bern

    A small cozy Bern is not at all like the capital in the usual sense of the word. Its streets immersed in greenery, red-tiled houses, church spires would be more appropriate in a prosperous province, where people have been living a measured life for centuries, and are not in the thick of events. Nevertheless, Bern is the administrative center of Switzerland, where many states send their ambassadors.

    A wide field of activity opens up for tourists in the city. After visiting the numerous architectural attractions in the historical quarters of Bern, you can take up local museums or enjoy the majestic views of the Alpine peaks that rise against the piercing blue sky.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Bern

    Old Town

    The historical part of Bern, located in a hilly bend of the Aare River. Since 1983, it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Most of the city's attractions are located in the old quarters. The first settlement in this area arose at the end of the XII century, when the founder of Bern, Duke Berthold V of Tseringen, came here. Nowadays, restaurants, hotels, clubs and offices are located in this part of the city in former residential buildings.

    Old Town
    Bernese fountains

    Bernese fountains

    Bern is famous for its numerous fountains-wells, many of which were created in the XIII – XVI centuries. Bernese fountains are guarded by statues of fabulous creatures made by the sculptor G. Ging. The most frightening statue is the "Child Eater". This is an evil giant with a bag full of kids' bodies (he eats one of them). Apparently, the sculpture was created to help parents raise naughty offspring.

    Federal Palace

    The palace complex was built in 1894-1902 according to the project of G. Auer in the neo-Renaissance style. The building is used as a meeting place for Swiss public authorities. The height of the palace reaches 64 meters. Its roof is crowned with a huge dome, on the inside of which the coat of arms of Switzerland and its 22 cantons are laid out in mosaic (as of the beginning of the XX century). The building is open to the public. From special galleries you can watch the parliamentary session.

    Federal Palace
    Zytglogge

    Zytglogge

    A tower with an astronomical clock, presumably erected in the XIII century as a defensive fortification. At the beginning of the XV century, the building burned down, after which it was built again from local sandstone. The modern look of the building acquired in the XVI century. The ancient Citglogge tower clock is more than 500 years old. All these centuries, the townspeople have used them to determine the exact time.

    Prison Tower

    The tower was built in the middle of the XVII century on the site of the city gate. Until 1897, it was used for the detention of prisoners (hence the name), then the city archive was placed in the premises. At the same time, an observation post was located in the tower, from where the caretaker could notice the fire starting in time. Now this point has been converted into an observation deck for tourists.

    Prison Tower
    Town Hall

    Town Hall

    Bern's Town Hall is an example of mixed–style architecture. In her appearance, Romanesque features are guessed, as well as elements of early and late Gothic. The town hall was built at the beginning of the XV century for the needs of the city council. Subsequently, the building was rebuilt several times, while its architectural appearance has changed somewhat. Nowadays, in addition to the city council, the church parliament of the canton of Bern sits here.

    Bern Cathedral

    The cathedral of the Protestant Church of Bern, located in the historical part of the city. The construction of the temple lasted for several centuries – from the XIV to the end of the XIX centuries. The dominant architectural style of the building is late Gothic. The interior of the cathedral is quite simple and concise. According to church reformers, all unnecessary decorations were removed from here in the distant XVI century, so that believers could focus only on communion with God.

    Bern Cathedral
    Nidegkirche Church

    Nidegkirche Church

    A small church with a high spire, built in the middle of the XIV century. During the difficult years of the Reformation, the church was almost abandoned, services resumed here only in 1566. In the middle of the XX century, the reconstruction of the building was carried out under the direction of architect M. Perinkaioli. As a result, new bronze reliefs were added to the facade. In 1968, a monument in honor of Berthold V Tseringen was erected in the courtyard of the temple.

    Church of the Holy Spirit

    A modest and elegant Baroque church of the XVIII century, which is considered one of the most important Protestant parishes in Switzerland. Like other local churches, its interior is not luxurious, but still the walls are decorated with rich stucco, and in the hall there is a circular gallery of massive columns. The Church of the Holy Spirit is one of the most spacious in the country. It can accommodate up to 2 thousand people.

    Church of the Holy Spirit
    Church of St. Peter and Paul

    Church of St. Peter and Paul

    The first Catholic church built after the victory of the Reformation in Switzerland. The church was built in the period from 1858 to 1864 . The facade is made in a mixed architectural manner. On it you can see the features of Gothic and late Romanesque style. The interiors were painted in the Art Nouveau style relatively recently – in 1998. Despite belonging to a Catholic diocese, the Church of St. Peter and Paul is relatively independent from the Vatican.

    Paul Klee Center

    A museum whose collection consists of the works of P. Klee, an avant–garde graphic artist and art critic. The idea of creating an exhibition appeared after the descendants of the master donated more than 700 of his works to the city. The museum building was built at the expense of the Muller family, designed by architect R. Piano. The opening took place in 2005. The collection is located in the underground part of the building, as Klee's canvases are sensitive to light.

    Paul Klee Center
    Albert Einstein House Museum

    Albert Einstein House Museum

    A. Einstein lived in the house at Kramgasse 49 from 1903 to 1905 while working at the local patent office. It was here that the great scientist wrote the first articles that covered the fundamental postulates of the theory of relativity. In Einstein's former apartment, the original atmosphere of the beginning of the XX century has been recreated, photographs of the scientist and his family hang on the walls, scientific papers and documents are stored on the shelves.

    Historical Museum of Bern

    The museum is located on Helvetiaplatz. The building was built at the end of the XIX century. From the outside it resembles a real castle. The museum exposition is divided into four large sections, where thousands of objects are exhibited. In total, the funds contain more than 250 thousand exhibits. Here you can look at knight's armor, ancient coins, decorative elements of temples, church utensils and much more.

    Historical Museum of Bern
    Museum of Fine Arts

    Museum of Fine Arts

    The collection contains a large number of paintings by Swiss, French, Italian and Spanish masters of the XIV-XX centuries. The avant-garde exposition deserves special mention, which was transferred to the museum in 2014 on behalf of a private art connoisseur. It includes works by S. Dali, P. Cezanne, A. Matisse, A. Modigliani, V. Kandinsky and other artists. In addition to paintings, the museum houses 3 thousand sculptures and 48 thousand engravings.

    Natural History Museum

    The Natural Science Exposition, which was founded in 1832. The museum staff works closely with the University of Bern. The collection consists of stuffed animals, skeletons, minerals, huge crystals. There are even meteorite fragments and gold bars here. Interactive installations imitating the smells and sounds of wildlife work in many halls. The Bern Museum has one of the most complete natural science expositions in Switzerland.

    Natural History Museum
    Museum of Communication

    Museum of Communication

    The museum exhibits tell visitors the history of the development of various means of communication. Antique telephones, telegraphs, radios, televisions, computers and other devices are exhibited here. An impressive part of the exhibition is devoted to digital technologies. There is a specialized sanatorium at the museum, where people suffering from computer addiction are being treated.

    Bear Pit

    The "bear Pit" is a small bear park with a moat adjacent to it, they are a branch of the Delhelzli City Zoo. The bear is considered to be the heraldic symbol of Bern, this animal is quite reverently treated here. The first pit appeared in the city in the XV century, since then it has repeatedly moved from place to place. The park is a popular tourist attraction.

    Bear Pit
    Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden

    The Botanical Garden is located at the University of Bern. It contains a collection of plants from the tropics, deserts, steppes, forests and alpine meadows. The garden was established in 1862. In some greenhouses with especially valuable plants, access to visitors with children may be restricted, as the administration is worried about the safety of delicate representatives of the flora, sensitive to the slightest impact.

    Rose Garden

    A romantic landscape park where about 220 varieties of roses and about 200 types of irises grow and smell. The garden is strewn with flowers of all shades of red, yellow and white. From here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the historical part of Bern, as the rose garden is located on a hill. The garden appeared in the XX century on the site of the former city cemetery. This is a great place for walking, relaxing and philosophical reflection.

    Rose Garden
    Gurten Park

    Gurten Park

    Mount Gurten is located a few kilometers from Bern. Its height is about 864 meters. An amusement park of the same name is organized on the slopes of the mountain. In winter, people ski and sledge here, in summer – on bicycles. The park has a hotel, restaurants and conference facilities. Every year a musical festival "Gurtenfestival" is held here, which attracts participants from all over Europe.