Zytglogge — Attraction in Bern

The Zytglogge-Turm is a famous medieval clock tower located in the heart of Bern’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town in Switzerland. Its name, “Zytglogge”, comes from Swiss German and means “time bell” or “clock bell”. Facts: -Built: Around 1218–1220, originally as a gate tower in the city’s western fortifications. -Function: Over the centuries, it has served as a guard tower, prison, clock tower, and civic monument. -Astronomical Clock: Installed in the 15th century, the Zytglogge features an elaborate astronomical clock that displays not only the time but also the day of the week, zodiac sign, and moon phases. -Mechanical Figures: Every hour, a charming show takes place with animated figurines, including a rooster, a jester, and bears—a highlight for visitors. -Today: The Zytglogge is one of Bern’s most iconic landmarks and a popular tourist attraction. Guided tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the medieval clockwork and provide panoramic views over the old town. It stands as a symbol of Bern’s rich history and craftsmanship, connecting the city’s medieval past with its modern identity.

You can book a ticket for a guided tour via getyourguide.com. The ticket costs between 22-25 USD per person if booked online. The tours are also...

Zytglogge in Bern is one of those places that catches your eye even if you’re not looking for it. It’s an old clock tower right in the middle of the old town, and the first time I saw it, I just stood there staring for a bit—it’s that striking. The big astronomical clock face, the golden details, and the little figures that move when the hour strikes—it all has this old-world charm that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

What I loved most was how it’s just part of the street, not tucked away or behind gates. Locals walk by like it’s nothing, but as a visitor, you really appreciate how much history is packed into that spot. The street around it is full of arcades, little shops, cafés, and those classic Bernese buildings with red roofs and green shutters. I caught the clock show on the hour, and though it’s short and simple, it was fun to see the mechanical figures come to life.

If you're wandering through Bern, you’ll probably pass it anyway, but it’s worth pausing for. Zytglogge isn’t just a landmark—it’s a lovely little moment of Bern’s character...

The Zytglogge (Clock Tower) has Bears dance their hourly routine, a jester jokingly signals the hour too early, the quarter-hour chimes are heard from the tower, and Chronos, the god of time, turns his hourglass over. The golden figure of Hans von Thann finally strikes the hour in time with Chronos’ swinging scepter.The hands of the astrolabium move somewhat more slowly but just as precisely. The discs of the astronomical calendar clock are artfully arranged above the Clock Tower’s entrance. Both fixed and rotating spheres form an exact replica of the constellations with the earth in the center. Sun, moon and stars circle our planet in the orbits we recognize from the earth’s vantage point.The complex display of the northern hemisphere always shows the current zodiac sign, the moon’s phase, the time of sunrise and sunset, and the date. Frescoes of the five planetary gods from Roman mythology adorn the space above the...