Best Sights and Monuments To Check Out in Medieval City Center of Bern, Switzerland

Bern, Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland. Photo by Andreas Fischinger on Unsplash

Bern, Switzerland, is truly an amazing city, offering tons of things for tourists to do and see. This is especially the case with the medieval city center, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.

Divided into the lower and upper parts, Bern’s old city is home to some of Switzerland’s most amazing sights and monuments. Here are the ones you should definitely check out when you visit.

Zytglogge

Bern’s clock tower Zytglogge is a popular attraction due not only to its impressive design but also the performance it puts on every full hour. Once the clock hands strike the hour, a fleet of mechanical figurines, which includes a jester, a roster, and a bear, put on a one-of-a-kind show. The tower, which was built in the early 13th century, also serves as an observation deck.

Bern Minster

Bern Minster is a 15th-century Gothic cathedral that amazes visitors with its grandiose exterior and lavish interior. It is the tallest cathedral in Switzerland, thanks to a 330 ft tower that also serves as an observation deck. When climbed, it provides not only a panoramic view of beautiful Bern but also the gorgeous sight of the Alps in the distance.

The Parliament Building

Bern’s Parliament Building is considered one of the most important historic buildings in Switzerland. It has been home to the country’s government for years and remains so to this day. The building itself is popular among tourists for its distinctive green dome and neo-Renaissance style architecture. The locals, on the other hand, use its expansive square as a meeting place.