Käfigturm — Attraction in Bern

🏰🔒 Unlock History at Bern’s Käfigturm! 🔒🏰*

Step into Bern’s medieval past at the Käfigturm (Prison Tower)—a stone sentinel that’s guarded the city since the 13th century! 📜✨ Once a grim prison and city gate, this towering landmark now bridges history and modernity with its political exhibitions and thought-provoking art displays. 🎨🗝️

Don’t miss: ✔️ The tower’s ancient stone walls and original prison cells—whispers of Bern’s darker days. ✔️ Rotating exhibits on Swiss democracy and social issues (free entry!). ✔️ The iconic clock and bell atop the tower, a timeless symbol of Bern’s heritage. ⏰ ✔️ Marktgasse just below—a bustling street perfect for coffee, souvenirs, or people-watching! ☕🛍️

Pro tip: Climb the tower’s narrow staircase for a bird’s-eye view of Bern’s rooftops and the Parliament Building nearby. Pair your visit with a stroll to the Zytglogge (just 5 mins away!) for a full medieval immersion. 🏃♂️ Visit during Art Nights or cultural events when the tower hosts live debates or...

The Zytglogge, or Clock Tower, is one of the most famous landmarks in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Built in the early 13th century, it originally served as a gate tower in the city’s fortifications. Over the centuries, it has played many roles, including that of a guard tower, prison, and clock tower.

The Zytglogge is particularly well known for its astronomical clock, which was added in the 15th century. Every hour, a fascinating show of mechanical figures, including a rooster, a jester, and bears, comes to life, attracting many visitors. The clock not only tells the time but also shows the day, zodiac sign, and phases of the moon.

Located in the heart of Bern's Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Clock Tower is a symbol of the city’s rich history. Today, it remains a popular tourist attraction and a proud reminder of Bern’s...

Amazing. The first tower, which stood on the site of the present Käfigturm, was built in 1256 during the second expansion of Bern. Over the nearly seventy years since the construction of the Zytglogge tower and the first city walls, Bern had expanded westward along the Aare peninsula. In 1255, construction began on a second set of walls, which required a new gatehouse. The new tower was very similar to the original Zytglogge. It was built as a hollow square and most of the back of the tower was open to the city. It had a small, flat platform at the top and a gate that opened onto the bridge...