Zytglogge
A 13th-century city gate converted into an astronomical clock tower. A few minutes before each hour, a parade of mechanical figures puts on a show with a jester, bears, and a rooster.
The clock tower was originally the western gate of the Old Town. An astronomical clock was installed in 1530. Its east-facing dial shows the time, zodiac signs, and moon phases. About four minutes before each hour, mechanical figures appear in turn: a rooster crows, a parade of bears circles, a jester shakes his bells, and finally a golden Time God strikes the bell. You can join an official guided tour to climb the tower, see the clock mechanism, and look down over the arcaded streets. The tour takes about an hour and must be booked in advance through Bern Tourism. Legend has it that Einstein rode a tram past here every day, and that it sparked his thinking about time.
Opening hours
Exterior all day; guided tour approx. 14:15 (check official site)
Nearby sights
- Kindlifresserbrunnen & Old Town Fountains
- Kornhaus & Kornhauskeller
- Einsteinhaus
- Old City of Bern & Arcades
- Kirchenfeldbrücke
- Bern Minster
- Federal Palace & Bundesplatz
- Käfigturm