In 1983, UNESCO included the Swiss capital among its world heritage sites thanks to a very well preserved historic center from the medieval era and, today, Bern it attracts numerous visitors who want to spend a few days of tranquility among towers, buildings and trendy clubs. Let's see together the attractions not to be missed.
The historic center of Bern is made up of 6 kilometers of stone streets mostly lined with arcades animated by shops, bars and restaurants and it is a pleasure to walk aimlessly in search of over one hundred fountains, 11 of which still retain the statues of medieval era. Among them, the one certainly stands out Child eater fountain, the Ogre fountain, which represents a giant intent on devouring a child. The oldest fountain in the city is the Lenbrunnen, which is located in the cellars of the state chancellery, and which can only be admired during a guided tour.
Also worth visiting in the historic center of the Swiss capital is Bern Minster, the cathedral of Bern, which with its 100 meters of height is the highest in the whole country and which offers an incredible view from above over the entire city... provided, of course, that you successfully tackle the 344 steps that separate you from its summit. The cathedral is in late Gothic style and work on its construction began in 1421 and was completed only over 450 years later.
Il 1st August in Switzerland it is a national holiday. For the occasion, the city of Bern transforms the Cathedral platform into a playground for the little ones, where a lantern workshop, a painting studio, a make-up room and toy cars await them in which they can move around freely. Are you wondering why a lantern workshop is planned? Quickly said: at 21pm the historic procession of lights parades through the historic center.
In the elegant square in front of the cathedral (Münsterplatz) there is the fountain of Moses and the largest Christmas market in the Swiss capital is held here every year. In the nearby park (Münster Plattform) you can rest for a few minutes and take the lift which will take you towards the Matte district overlooking the Aare river and usually sheltered from the crowds of tourists.
Continuing, however, along Münstergasse it is possible to stop in one of the restaurants offering typical Swiss cuisine before moving towards the Zytglogge, or the clock tower of Bern. At every hour, the space in front of this clock - reminiscent of the one in Prague - fills with people waiting for the mechanical figures to come to life. The one in the capital is the oldest clock tower in Switzerland and for centuries it also represented the most important clock in the city, so much so that it was the reference point from which the walking hours were calculated and indicated on special stones placed along the streets of the country. If you want to go "behind the scenes", special guided tours will take you to discover the mechanisms that allow the mechanical figures to move and the clock to function.
Continuing your visit to Bern, turn into Kramgasse where you will not only find the typical arcades, but also the Einstein Haus, Albert Einstein's house where the German genius lived with his family between 1903 and 1905. In fact, it was in the Swiss capital that the scientist developed his theory of relativity and in the small house-museum at number 49 you will find an interesting multimedia exhibition that will allow you to learn about the living conditions of the time. The Einstein Haus is open every day from February to December from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
Along the slope of the Aare river there is the BärenPark, the bear park where a family of three plantigrades lives in an area of 6.000 square meters with caves, bathing areas, bushes and groves. The name Bern, in fact, derives from bär (the name of the bear in German) and for this reason these animals have always been "honorary" citizens. They once lived in the Bärengraben – the bear pit – near the Nydegg Bridge, but the structure has been replaced by this more modern park that is attentive to the well-being of its inhabitants.
Just above the bear pit, don't miss the Rosengarten, the rose garden which offers one of the most beautiful views of the entire Swiss capital. Inside you can find over 200 species of roses, but also irises and rhododendrons, not to mention the romantic water lily pond or the green areas where children can play in complete tranquility. On the banks of the Aare river, on the northern end of the Lorrainebrücke, there is the Bern botanical garden where you can enjoy the scent and colors of 6.000 varieties of plants and seven greenhouses with palms, bananas, ferns and coffee.
The city has an efficient network of cycle paths for those who choose to travel through its streets by bicycle and if you want to do some physical activity in the open air we recommend the Marzili swimming pool. This is the most famous public swimming pool in the Swiss capital and is located not far from the federal palace. Here you will find pools for adults and children and you can also swim in the river (but only if you are excellent swimmers); Furthermore, there is no shortage of 10.000 square meters of lawn on which to lie down and sunbathe.
If, however, the weather has not been kind to you, you can always take refuge in the rooms of the Kunstmuseum, the most important museum in the Swiss capital, where you can admire over 3.000 works by artists ranging from Picasso to Paul Klee. For children between 4 and 12 years old, a series of "tailor-made" activities and guided tours are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays which allow even the littlest ones to approach the world of art from a more unusual and fun perspective.
