Bern, Switzerland

Bern, Switzerland, has been our home city for about a year.  Even though we live just outside of the city in the village of Worb, my wife Amy goes to work there every day, and it is where my kids love to walk the arcades and look in the shops.  The slow pace and beautiful architecture of the capital city of Switzerland captivate us every time we walk its century-old streets.

One of my goals for this New Year is to explore a new place in Switzerland at least once a week.  Whether that is a day excursion into the Alps, exploring the many different trails and lakes, or experiencing a new Swiss village or town, the goal is to see and experience as much as possible in this small but beautiful country.

Due to the weather forecast of heavy snow in the mountains and rain in the cities this past week, I decided to bring my camera to the city that has captivated my heart for a year now—the familiar city of Bern.

Walking up from the Bahnhof (train station), you find yourself in the city’s heart.  I made my way down to a quiet park called Kleine Shanze.  This is a great place to come in the spring or summer afternoon to eat at the café or relax and look at the Alps on a clear day.  We often walk through the park as we make our way to one of our favorite churches, Holy Trinity Church, which sits on the other side.

From here, I walked up Bundesgasse to Bundesplatz, the square outside the Federal Palace of Switzerland. Throughout the year, markets filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are located in Bundesplatz. During winter, people can enjoy the skating rink in the middle of Bundesplatz.

The Federal Palace’s beautiful architecture and view of the Aare River and the Alps can be experienced from the side.

Making my way through Barenplatz, I headed up Marktgasse towards Zytglogge (the famous Clock Tower).  You notice right away that the buildings and storefronts are uniformly gray as the Bernese sandstone comes from the nearby quarry.  You can also see many colorful fountains and statues in the middle of the streets.  These fountains and statues were commissioned during the 16th century.  Walking most streets in Bern, you have a choice between “Rohren” or “Piping” (Rohr means pipe), the slang word for walking under the arcade corridors or walking along the cobbled streets.  If you take the street, watch out for the buses and trams.

Once crossing over Zytglogge into the old town, I made a quick left onto Zibelegässli and then onto one of my favorite streets in Bern, Brunngasse.  Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city lies this quaint and old street to casually stroll or sit in one of its restaurants or cafes.

At the end of Brunngasse, you wrap around and connect back to Rathausgasse and down to my favorite square in Bern, Rathausplatz.

I soon made my way toward the famous Münster crossing over Kramgasse.  Kramgasse offers a great view of the clock tower from the old town.

The Münster is a 15th-century cathedral with a 330-foot-tall tower. Its gothic structure was initially modeled after the famous Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany.

Around the other side of the Münster lies the platform that overlooks the Aare River.  The views are great from here, looking out over the Aare and toward the backside of the beautiful old homes and buildings.  (Also, I found what could be my new mode of transportation…I love these)

In front of the Münster is the beautiful square of Münsterplatz.

Bern offers many side alleys, old staircases, and beautiful architecture.  Amy and I are constantly finding new things and places to enjoy.

The famous Rosengarten was my final destination before picking up the boys from school. The Rosengarten is a beautiful place, especially during the spring and summer months. But on this cold winter day, it was a great spot to overlook my favorite city, Bern.

“Cities were always like people, showing their varying personalities to the traveler. Depending on the city and on the traveler, there might begin a mutual love, or dislike, friendship, or enmity. Where one city will rise a certain individual to glory, it will destroy another who is not suited to its personality. Only through travel can we know where we belong or not, where we are loved and where we are rejected.” 
― Roman Payne