Bern's Old Town

The Old Town of Bern is a historic part of it, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Bern was founded by Duke Berthold V of Zeringen in 1191 on a hilly peninsula that surrounds the Are River. In the eastern part of the peninsula, the Duke laid Fort Nidegg, which was the beginning of the active development of the city.

In the medieval part of the city you can see the Gothic Bern Cathedral, the construction of which was completed in 1893. The bell tower of the cathedral is the highest in Switzerland (height - 100 meters). The bell of the cathedral weighs 10 tons.

On the square stands the medieval tower with the clock Zitglogge ("Bell of Time") - one of the most famous symbols of Bern, is the oldest bridge of Bern with a length of 52 meters, built in the XIII century, the chapel of the Virgin Mary, Nidegg Church.

In addition to the medieval buildings, the Old Town of Bern also houses the Federal, Municipal and Cantonal Governments.