Bern Altstadt
Bern panorama
The capital of Switzerland is a semi-medieval city with centuries old stone buildings on a narrow peninsula where the Aare River makes a horseshoe bend in a wooded river valley. The Aare is a 183 kilometer long tributary of the Rhine River and only exists in Switzerland.
The founder of Bern was Duke Berchtold von Zahringen chose the site in 1191 because it was easy to defend. Three sides were protected by the Aare river which was like a moat, dangerous and difficult for possible invaders to consider crossing.
Ascona to Bern
I took a train from Ascona near the Italian border through central Switzerland to Luzern then west to Bern. Early parts of the journey were though many tunnels through the alps, then opening into beautiful views of valleys and lakes.
Pastoral Switzerland
Swiss capitol since 1848
In the middle ages, Bern was one of the largest and most powerful city states north of the Alps. But in 1405, all the wooden buildings in Bern burned down and the city was rebuilt with sandstone. Many of those building still survive in the ‘aldstadt,’ old town.
Today the once powerful medieval town is a major European capital and home to wealthy Swiss who want luxury, safety, privacy, and serenity. It’s all here. Bern became the capitol of Switzerland in 1848 when the country was confederated.
Summer Solstice in Bern
My first night in Bern was on June 21, summer solstice. After an afternoon strolling through the aldstadt, I noticed that it was not getting dark. Saturday night was busy in the aldstadt, I didn’t want to miss any of the fun. The Berners didn’t either.
Saturday night at the Konzerthaus
Five Bridges
The aldstadt is on the peninsula in a river valley surrounded by steep hillsides where most Berners live in apartment buildings along quiet, shaded streets. To reach the aldstadt, you cross one of five bridges which also serve as tram and bus routes into town.
Crossing the Kornhausbrucke over the Aare River into Bern
Nydeggbrucke over the Aare
Each crossing allows one to look down into the river and see the beautiful panorama of the Bern’s clock towers, church steeples, medieval buildings, and cobblestone streets.
Aldstadt near the Aare River
Zytglogge
Zytglogge – Bern’s first city gate
Mural under Zytglogge’s arched passage
A fifteen-century clock tower is the focal point of the aldstadt. The giant clock was the original gate of the city. Giant clocks are on both sides, with the side facing the aldstadt featuring an astrological calendar and a Swiss statue.
Side of Zytglogge facing medieval city streets
Legendary medieval statue
Astrological calendar on Zytglogge
Three wide, cobblestone streets run the length of the peninsula to the Aare River. Centuries old building are now apartments, offices, and street level restaurants, coffee shops, designer stores, artists studios, and professional offices.
Rauthausgasse in the aldstadt
Gerechetigkeitgasse
Kramggasse in aldstadt
Aldstadt promenade
Murals in the Aldstadt
A number of buildings had festive murals depicting what looked to be caricatures of old Swiss peasant life. Very interesting and colorful. I wish I could have learned more about them.
Swiss peasant life mural on altstadt buildings
They’re having a good time!
Next: Aare River
* * * * *
In addition to this travel blog, I write international thrillers, mysteries, and romantic suspense novels.
I’m currently writing the Milan Thriller Series featuring Italy’s anti-terrorism police, DIGOS (Divisione Investigazioni Generali e Operazioni), as they pursue domestic and international terrorists.
I travel to Milan every summer for research, to see Italian and American friends, to work with my researcher and translator, and to meet DIGOS officers at Milan’s Questura (police headquarters) who advise me with DIGOS investigative procedures.
If you’d like to receive a free ebook of my short mystery, Perfect Crime, which has more than 2000 reviews on Amazon, please sign up on the left side bar. I just need your name and email address.
You can find the Milan Thriller Series and all my ebooks at digital book sites and on my publisher’s Website, RedBrickPress.net.
Paperbacks of Thirteen Days in Milan, No One Sleeps, and Vesuvius Nights are also available RedBrickPress.net, Amazon, and independent bookstores. If they’re not in stock, stores can order from the Ingram distributor. You should have your book in 3 or 4 days.
If you’d like to learn more about Italy, travel, and writing, sign up for my email newsletter at my publisher’s website or my personal web site jackerickson.com.
I like hearing from readers! Please email and tell me what you like to read. If you have friends who’d like to read this blog, please send it along to them.
Thank You!
Travel with us for a Year and a Day 