Page 75 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

15th century the castle was Near the Rathaus stands
replaced by a small church, the Neo­Gothic Catholic 13 "
the Nydeggkirche, and in the church, Kirche St Peter und Kunsthalle
19th century a stone bridge, Paul, completed in 1858.  C4 ⌂ Helvetiaplatz 1
the Nydeggbrücke, was built # 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
over the deep gorge of the ∑ kunsthalle-bern.ch
Aare, connecting the Old Town
with Bern’s eastern end. 12 " The Kunsthalle, a building in
Bear Park the Modernist style, was
founded in 1918 and has
 D3 ⌂ Grosser Muristalden retained its prominence as a
11 ' 6 # 24 hrs by appointment showcase for modern art. It
Rathaus ∑ tierpark-bern.ch has no permanent collection, EXPERIENCE Bern
Located near the town’s but stages a continuous
 C3 ⌂ Rathausplatz 2
∑ rathaus.sites.be.ch old bear pits, this forested programme of exhibitions
6,000­sq­m (64,590­sq­ft) by prominent artists.
The seat of the canton and modern park is home to
the city of Bern’s legislative three brown bears. Sloping to the history of mountain­ Museum of Communication.
assembly since it was built in down to the river, the park BERN’S BEARS 14 "\ eering is The Climb and the The displays span the gamut
1406–16, the Rathaus is an has numerous caves and Brown bears have Schweizerisches Fall, part of two dioramas by from bonfires to satellites.
attractive building with an pools that provide the bears been indelibly asso­ Alpines Museum Ferdinand Hodler, illustrating Multimedia presentations dive
elegant Gothic façade and with a truly natural environ­ ciated with Bern since  B4 ⌂ Helvetiaplatz 4 the history of the conquest of into radio, described as “the
double staircase. ment. There is no feeding the town was founded # 10am–5pm Tue–Sun the Matterhorn. window to the world”, and
Since the 15th century, time, rather food is hidden in 1191. They were kept ∑ alpinesmuseum.ch how cyborgs are the progeny
the Rathaus has undergone for the bears to forage. in pits (Bärengraben) of simple punch cards. The
several major restorations, Next to the old bear pits, in on the far side of the Through various multimedia, new permanent collection
and the ground floor was com­ a former tram depot, is one of Nydeggbrücke, just including videos, dioramas and 15 "\ gets visitors singing along
pletely rebuilt in 1939–42. the town’s two helpful tourist across the river from paintings inspired by the Alps’ Museum für with karaoke and trying their
However, it still retains its offices, as well as a restaurant the Old Town’s eastern magni ficent scenery, this Kommunikation hand at hacking.
Gothic character. The Visitors’ serving local cuisine and beer extremity, from the museum describes the geo­  C4 ⌂ Helvetiastrasse 16 Also new are the “communi­
Gallery is open to the public brewed on the premises. early 16th century. logy, topo graphy, climate and # 10am–5pm Tue–Sun cators”, a group of expert
when the assembly is in ses­ A steep path from the old The old pits are still natural history of the Swiss ∑ mfk.ch hosts who move through the
sion, and free guided tours are bear pits leads up to the there, linked by a tun­ Alps, and docu ments all museum to get conversations
held once a month (book Rosengarten, containing over nel to the Bear Park. aspects of human activity The history of the human flowing. The ever­changing
ahead online). 200 varieties of roses. in the mountains. endeavour to make contact temporary exhibitions might
The displays include a across long distances is include digital detoxing or
graphic explanation of how compel lingly laid out at the political cartoons.
glaciers are formed, how they
are melting and a model of
the Bernese Oberland. Sep­
arate sections are devoted to
various aspects of Alpine life,
including transport, industry,
tourism and winter sports.
The daily life and culture of
alpine people are also des­
cribed, as are current concerns
for the environment. One
exhibit in the section devoted

INSIDER TIP
Swim in the
River Aare
On a particularly hot
day nothing beats being
carried along in the
bracing cur rent of Bern’s
River Aare. Jump in the
river for a swim or bathe
The Gothic faÇade of the in the refreshing Marzili The wave-like Zentrum
Rathaus, a typical example swimming pool. Paul Klee, designed
of Bernese architecture by Renzo Piano
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