Page 77 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

Islamic artifacts. The Einstein A SHORT WALK
An exhibit in the Museum provides an
interactive Museum engaging account of Albert Did You Know? THE OLD TOWN
für Kommunikation Einstein’s ground­breaking
discoveries, as well as the life A skilled musician, Paul
and loves behind the genius. Klee chose the visual
arts because modern
16 "\ music was “creatively Distance 2 km (1 mile) Nearest tram
Bernisches unattractive”. Bärenplatz Time 30 minutes
Historisches Museum 17 " With long cobbled streets lined with red-roofed
Naturhistorisches houses and picturesque arcades, Bern’s Old Town
 C4 ⌂ Helvetiaplatz 5 Museum
# 10am–5pm Tue–Sun EXPERIENCE Bern (Altstadt) is the best-preserved historic town centre
in Switzerland. The layout of its streets, which are
∑ bhm.ch  C4 ⌂ Bernastrasse 15 18 "'\=
# 2–5pm Mon, 9am–5pm Zentrum Paul Klee punctuated by colourfully painted fountains, has
Laid out over seven floors of Tue, Thu & Fri, 9am–6pm remained largely unchanged since the early 15th
a Neo­Gothic building remi­ Wed, 10am–5pm Sat–Sun  F3 ⌂ Monument im century. This was also the period when the Münster
niscent of a medieval fortified ∑ nmbe.ch Fruchtland 3 # 10am–5pm and the Rathaus, two of its great landmarks, were Zytglogge’s ornate
castle, Bern’s Museum of Tue–Sun ∑ zpk.org built. While the western district of the Old Town is golden clock face
History holds some 500,000 With roots dating to the early filled with shops and busy street markets, its older
artifacts and is also home to 19th century, Bern’s Museum This arts centre houses the eastern district has a more restful atmosphere.
the Einstein Museum. of Natural History is one of world’s largest collection of Now a cultural centre, the
Among the most interesting the oldest museums in works by Swiss artist Paul 18th-century Kornhaus granary
exhibits here is a spine­chilling Switzerland. It is best known Klee (1879–1940). Of the 4,000 was built over vaulted wine cellars
depiction of the Dance of for its numerous dioramas paintings and drawings in its that currently house a restaurant.
Death, a copy of a 16th­century of stuffed animals shown in collection, about 200 are on
monastic wall paint ing, but re­creations of their natural display at any one time. There 0 metres 100 N
the pride of the museum is its habitats. There are sections are temporary exhibitions, 0 yards 100 Französische Kirche
collection of 12 Burgundian devoted to Africa, Asia and the guided tours and events such FINISH
tapestries, the oldest of which Arctic, but the most impres­ as concerts, theatre, readings
date from the 15th­century. sive displays focus on the and workshops, as well as a
Among the most notable is wildlife of the Alps. On view separate children’s museum,
the Millefleurs­tapisserie is the stuffed body of Barry, a Creaviva. The undulating K O R N H A U S P L AT Z
(Thousand Flowers Tapestry). St Bernard dog famous for his building by Italian architect
Other sections are devoted feats of mountain rescue in the Renzo Piano, and the sur­ START SPEICHERGASSE
to archaeology, with displays 19th century. The museum rounding sculpture park, are
of Stone Age, Ancient also has a large collection of designed to blend in with
Egyptian, Celtic, Roman and alpine minerals and fossils. the landscape. Z E U G H A U S G A S S E
THEATER –
PL ATZ

The Bärenplatz (p72) M A R K T G A S S E
overlies the spot where a
moat once ran, along N E U E N G A S S E B ÄREN–
Bern’s west side. PL ATZ A M T H A U S T G A S S E

Heiliggeistkirche S P I TA LG A S S E BUNDES–
is one of the finest PL ATZ
Protestant churches S C H A U P L AT Z G A S S E
in Switzerland.

The main axis through the Old Town The Bundeshaus, with
begins at the Käfigturm (Prison Tower) its paintings of historical
on Marktgasse (p73). It was the events, overlooks the
city’s western gate in the 13th and Bundesplatz (p72).
14th centuries.

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