World photo page
Berne
Photos of the Berne, Switzerland, Zytglogge clock tower, Berner Münster, Parliament building, Kirchenfeldbrücke
Bern, the federal capital, is situated in the heart of Switzerland, which in turn lies at the center of Europe. Thanks to its central location, Bern is easily accessible and a favorite starting point for trips and excursions to the Alps, the Bernese Oberland, the Swiss Mittelland (Emmental, Seeland), the Jura, Lake Geneva and its surroundings, the Swiss interior and the Valais. An additional attraction of Bern as your base is that it is possible to discover virtually the whole of Switzerland on a day or half-day excursion. The Old Town of Bern has been featured in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1983. Take a look round this fabulous cultural site and enjoy the charm of the covered arcades, cobbled streets and decorated facades. Perhaps its most famous sight is the Zytglogge, an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. It also has an impressive 15th century Gothic cathedral, the Münster, and a 15th century town hall. Thanks to 6 kilometers of arcades, the old town boasts one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. Since the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit Bärengraben, which can be visited off the far end of the Nydeggbrücke. The Federal Building Bundeshaus, dating from 1902, which houses Parliament and part of the federal administration, can also be visited at opening hours. The Garden of Roses from where a scenic panorama view of the medieval city core can be enjoyed, is a well-kept Rosary on a hill, converted into a park from a former cemetery in 1913. Probably the newest attraction of Berne is the set of fountains in front of the Bundeshaus. It was inaugurated on August 1, 2004, the Swiss national day.
