World Heritage Photos

Old City of Bern: Bern was founded in 1191. The Old City of Bern is located on a narrow hill, surrounded on three sides by the Aare river. The Old City of Bern is built on uneven ground, there are several dozens meters in difference of height between the city districts down the Aare to the higher ones. After a fire in 1405, the original wooden buildings of the Old City of Bern were replaced by truss houses and later by the characteristic sandstone houses. Despite the fire and the construction of new buildings in the 18th century, the Old City of Bern retained its medieval character. The Zeitglockenturm or Zytglogge with its famous astronomical clock is a symbol of the city of Bern. The astronomical clock dates from the 15th century. The tower was built in the 13th century as the West Gate. Bern became the capital of Switzerland in 1848, the Federal Palace of Switzerland, an university and museums were built. The bell tower of the Bern Minster's is the highest (100 metres) tower in Switzerland. The largest bell of the Bern Minster (10.5 ton) was cast in 1611 and is also the largest bell in Switzerland. Most of the streets of the old city of Bern have arcades on both sides with shops underneath. The six km of arcades are the longest covered shopping area in Europe, a shoppers' paradise. There are over hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The 15th century arcades and 16th century fountains are an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Old City of Bern. Bern is located about 66 km from the UNESCO World Heritage Watchmaking Towns La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. The medieval city centre of Bern was inscribed on the UNESCO WOrld Heritage List in 1983 as: Old City of Berne. World Heritage Art: The Berner Fricktreppe

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   The Old City of Bern and the Aare River viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. Bern was built on uneven ground, there are several dozens of metres in difference of height between the city districts down the Aare River to the higher city districts. The Old City of Bern is surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. The Old City of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage.

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   Old City of Bern: The Rathausplatz is dominated by the Bern Rathaus, the Town Hall of Bern. The Bern Rathaus has a double staircase with decorative stone balustrades, the Rathaus was built at the Rathausplatz, the Town Square, in the period 1406-1416. Bern was founded in 1191. The Old City of Bern is situated on a narrow hill surrounded by the Aare River.

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   Old City of Bern: The Kreuzgasse Fountain is dating from 1779. There are more than hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The public fountains were built in the 16th century as a public water supply. The 16th century fountains are an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Old City of Berne.

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   Old City of Bern: The Clock Tower, the renowned Zytglogge or Zeitglockenturm, is one of the symbols of the city of Bern. The tower houses a astronomical clock, the clock dates from the 15th century. The tower was built in the 13th century as the West Gate of the city. The brown bear is the traditional symbol of Bern, the Bärengraben houses brown bears.

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   Old City of Bern: The Ryffli Fountain and the famous arcades in the Aarbergergasse street. The Ryffli Fountain (German: Ryfflibrunnen) was named after the legendary crossbowman Ryffli, a Swiss founding father. The Ryffli Fountain is one of the hundred public fountains in the Old City of Bern. The fountain was erected around 1545.

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   Old City of Bern: The French Church was built in the period 1270-1285 as a part of a monastery that was founded in 1269. The French Church is the oldest church in Bern. As of 1623, it served as a church for the French-speaking Protestants. The French Church was a refuge for Huguenots in the 17th century. The Old City of Bern was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1983.

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   Old City of Bern: A set of 26 fountains in front of the Swiss Bundeshaus on Parliament Square. The Swiss Bundeshaus, the Swiss House of Parliament, was inaugurated in 1902. The dome of the Swiss Bundeshaus has an external height of 64 metres. When Bern became the capital city of Switzerland in 1848, the Bundeshaus, an university and several museums were built in Bern.

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   Old City of Bern: The construction of the Bern Cathedral started in 1421, it was fully completed in 1893 when the bell tower was added. In the meantime the Reformation took place and Bern had become Protestant, the Catholic cathedral became a Protestant Minster, the Bern Minster. The 100 m high bell tower of the Bern Minster is the highest tower in Switzerland.

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   Old City of Bern: The Bern Minster, the Last Judgment Portal with the Archangel Michael with a flaming sword, the saved are on the left side and the damned on the darker right side. The most beautiful feature of the Bern Minster is the 15th century main portal with the Last Judgment, the collection of Late Gothic sculptures consists of 234 stone and carved wood statues.

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    Old City of Bern: The Stiftsgebäude on the Münsterplatz in the medieval centre of Bern. Several historic monuments are located around the Münsterplatz. On the left hand side, the entrance of the Protestant Minster, the Bern Minster. The bell tower of the Bern Minster houses seven bells, the largest bell weighs 10.5 ton, it was cast in 1611 and is also the largest bell in Switzerland.

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    Old City of Bern: The arcades of the Münstergasse near the medieval Münsterplatz. Most of the streets in the city of Bern have arcades on both sides with restaurants and shops underneath, a true shoppers' paradise. The six km of arcades are Europe's longest covered shopping area. The 15th century arcades are an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage: Old City of Berne.

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    Old City of Bern: The Frick Stairs leading to the lower part of the Old City of Bern. The Frick Stairs is located close to the Münsterplatz, the Minster Terrace, and the historic monuments in the Old City of Bern. Bern is strategically situated on a narrow hill. The lower part and upper part of the city are connected by the narrow wooden Frick Stairs and a modern lift.

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    A row of houses in the Old City of Bern, viewed from the Münster Platform in the upper part of the city. The Münster Platform offers great views over the Old City of Bern, the Aare Valley and the lower part of the city. The lower part and the upper part Bern are connected by the wooden Frick Stairs, but also by a modern lift.

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    A cobbled street lined with medieval houses in the Mattequartier, a historic district in the Old City of Bern, viewed from the Münster Platform, the Minster Terrace. The Münster Platform was built high above the Aare between 1334-1434. The Münster Platform is a flat open area planted with trees, it offers great views over the Aare River and the Mattequartier in the Old City of Bern.

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    A half-timbered building in the Old City of Bern. Highlights of the Old City of Bern includes the Bern Minster, the Renaissance fountains and the six kilometres of covered medieval arcades. The 15th century arcades and 16th century fountains are important parts of the UNESCO World Heritage: Old City of Berne.