Altstadt Bern and its arcades of sandstone and light

Altstadt Bern curves along the River Aare in Bern, its sandstone arcades, fountains and towers preserving a medieval plan that still shapes the Swiss capital.

Altstadt Bern is the historic core of Bern, curving along a loop of the River Aare with long sandstone façades, towers and arcades laid out on a medieval street plan. Founded in the late twelfth century and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, this compact old city shows how an early urban layout still underpins the federal capital of Switzerland.

Sandstone streets on a river peninsula

The old city of Bern occupies a narrow peninsula formed by a sweeping loop of the Aare, giving it a distinct outline when viewed from the terraces above the river.The Old City of Berne grew from a foundation in the twelfth century and expanded along the ridge in a sequence of planned extensions.Altstadt von Bern factsheet

From street level this topography appears in the long, slightly bowed avenues that run along the ridge, crossed by lanes dropping towards the water. Sandstone buildings line these streets in almost continuous rows, their façades forming a calm backdrop to the arches of the shopping arcades at ground level.

A medieval plan with later façades

The basic plan of Altstadt Bern dates to the High Middle Ages, with long axial streets and transverse alleys that still follow the lines set out after the city’s foundation in 1191.Old City of Bern Behind the facades, the plots remain narrow and deep, a reminder of medieval town lots adapted repeatedly over the centuries.UNESCO World Heritage in Bern

Many of the street fronts themselves, however, show later styles. Baroque and nineteenth-century details sit on older structures, creating an architectural layer cake that reflects reconstruction campaigns without erasing the underlying layout. Arcades run along large parts of the main streets, sheltering entrances, shopfronts and cellar steps and giving the old town its characteristic, continuous street walls.

Towers, fountains and the federal city’s landmarks

Within this compact grid rise a series of landmarks that mark Bern’s role as both medieval town and federal city. The Zytglogge, a clock tower that once formed part of the city’s fortifications, stands near the centre of the ridge and punctuates the main street with its astronomical clock and sculptural figures.Berner Altstadt description Further west the Bundeshaus, seat of the Swiss federal parliament and parts of the federal administration, closes the old town’s axis with its domed roof and broad terrace above the river.

Church spires and Renaissance figure fountains add vertical accents between the sandstone roofscape. The late Gothic Berner Münster rises above the eastern part of the old town with its tall tower, while a series of elaborately carved fountains from the sixteenth century stands in the middle of the streets, each basin set against the arcades and façades around it.Altstadt von Bern overview

Visiting Altstadt Bern: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The old city lies in the centre of Bern on a loop of the Aare, a short walk uphill from Bern’s main railway station, which sits just outside the historical core.
• Many streets in the old town follow the ridge of the peninsula, with gentle gradients along the main axes and steeper lanes or stairways leading down towards the river.
• Trams and buses from Bern railway station run along the western edge of the old town, stopping close to landmarks such as the Bundeshaus and the Zytglogge.
• The official languages of Switzerland include German, and the currency is the Swiss franc.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Altstadt Bern

Where is Altstadt Bern?

Altstadt Bern is the historic old city of Bern in Switzerland, set on a narrow peninsula formed by a loop of the River Aare.

What can visitors expect in the old town?

Visitors encounter long sandstone streets with arcades, medieval towers, figure fountains and views down to the river, all arranged on a clear historical street grid.

Why is Altstadt Bern recognised by UNESCO?

Altstadt Bern is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because its medieval urban structure has been preserved while serving as the core of Switzerland’s federal city.