Page 584 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

582  GERM AN Y , A USTRIA , AND SWITZERLAND

painted stone, which depicts
the Last Judgment. The tall
spire was only added in the late
19th century. To the right of the
cathedral is a delightful small
park overlooking the Aare
flowing far below. This makes a
good picnic spot in summer.
A huge bear park is situated
on the shore of the Aare just
below the old Bärengraben, or
The tall spire of Bern Cathedral rising above the city skyline bear pits. The park’s caves, pools,
and forest give the bears a more
5 Bern of Bern is a UNESCO World natural home than the
Heritage site, famous for its 19th-century pits. The city’s
Bern. * 128,000. k £ @
n Central Railway Station (031-328 arcaded streets, which offer Historical Museum – located just
1212). _ Ziebelemaerit (Nov). comprehensive protection in south of the old town over the
∑ berninfo.com the event of bad weather. The river across Kirchenfeldbrücke –
main streets – Kramgasse, provides a great introduction to
Bern is the capital of Switzerland Spitalgasse, Marktgasse, and the city’s history. Among the
and its most attractive city – it Gerechtigkeitsgasse – are all notable exhibits are wonderful
has the best-preserved medieval lined with tempting shops, Flemish tapestries. There is also
town center in the country. It is galleries, and cafés. the Paul Klee Centre, on
located on raised land in a bend The city’s famous clock tower Monument in Fruchtland,
of the Aare River. From the city’s stands where Kramgasse which contains around 4,000
terraces, there are spectacular meets Marktgasse. The works by the renowned artist,
views over the river and clock dates from 1530, and who lived in Bern for 33 years
across to the peaks of the on the hour a series of and was influenced by
distant Alps. figures – including bears, Expressionist, Cubist, and
The city was founded a jester, and a rooster – Surrealist styles of art.
at the end of the 12th plays out its perfor mance.
century by the Duke The old town is filled with E Historical Museum
of Zähringen and magnificent fountains, Helvetiaplatz 5. Tel 031-350 7711.
allegedly named after each of which depicts Open Tue–Sun. Closed Nov 26, Dec
the first animal – a bear a famous historical or 25. & 7 8 ∑ bhm.ch
– killed in the forests legendary figure. A
which previously wander around the Environs
covered the area. The city center will reveal To the southeast of Bern is the
bear has been the the likenesses of Moses, Emmental Valley. This verdant
city’s emblem ever the Duke of Zähringen, agricultural region, with its lush
since. Most of the and the gruesome grazing, is famous for the cheese
center of Bern, with The grotesque child- eating ogre, the of the same name. A drive
its many fine stone Kindlifresser or Kindlifresser. around the region can make an
Renaissance houses Ogre Fountain The cathedral on ideal half-day tour. Take in some
and covered arcades, Münstergasse was of the delightful towns and
dates from the 16th and built in the 15th century and is villages – Burgdorf, Affoltern, or
17th centuries. a beautiful example of late Langnau im Emmental – and
Since 1848, Bern has been Gothic architecture. The building’s the rolling hills dotted with
the capital of the Confederation. most magnificent element is covered wooden bridges and
The massive Bundeshaus the main portal – distinctive gabled
(Parliament House) is the home a masterpiece of wooden farm houses
of the Swiss Parliament, and the carved and of the area.
building is open to visitors when
parliament is not in session. It
is situated at the end of the
city’s main market squares –
Bärenplatz and Bundesplatz.
These linked squares are also
the site of the annual onion
market which takes place on
the fourth Monday in November,
when the local onion harvest is
traditionally celebrated. The
attractive old town at the heart The Last Judgment, in the tympanum of Bern Cathedral’s main portal
For hotels and restaurants see p594 and p595

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