Astronomical clock
Sun, moon and zodiac.
Andrew Bossi — CC BY-SA 2.5 · JoachimKohler-HB — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrew Bossi — CC BY-SA 2.5
The Zytglogge is a medieval tower in the heart of the old town of Bern, the de facto capital of Switzerland, and its name means «time bell» in the Bernese dialect. It is the city's oldest monument and one of its best-known symbols. It was built around 1218–1220 as a gate in the city walls and over eight centuries served as a guard tower, a prison and a clock tower. Its best-known feature is its 15th-century astronomical clock, which shows the time, the positions of the sun and moon and the signs of the zodiac, and a small show of mechanical figures moves a few minutes before each hour, drawing crowds to watch. The tower stands at the end of the long Kramgasse, with its arcaded stone walkways and colourful fountains, and it is part of the Old City of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guided tours take visitors inside the tower to see the old clockwork and climb to the top for a view over the rooftops. Watching the clock from the street is free, while tours inside are paid and run in season. The best time to stand in front of it is a few minutes before the hour, to see the moving figures.
Sun, moon and zodiac.
Before each hour.
Arcades and fountains.
Kramgasse, Bern, Switzerland
A few minutes before each hour.
Yes, on guided tours in season.
