Zytglogge Clock Tower

The Zytglogge is the best-known landmark in Bern and the informal centre of the Old Town. The tower dates to the early thirteenth century, when it served as a western gate of the young city, and it was later reused as a prison and a clock tower as the city grew beyond it. The astronomical clock on its eastern face was installed in the sixteenth century and still shows the hour, the day of the week, the month, the zodiac sign and the phase of the moon. What draws the crowds is the show of moving figures. About four minutes before every hour the figures begin to move: a jester rings small bells, a procession of bears circles a seated figure, a rooster crows, and a golden knight strikes the hour with a hammer on the large bell at the top. The effect is charming rather than grand, and the little drama is the same every hour, so you only need to see it once to understand it. The tower stands where Kramgasse meets Marktgasse, so you will pass it several times during any visit, and the corner makes a natural meeting point.

Arrive five to ten minutes early if you want a good view, because people gather in the street and the best spots fill up, especially around midday and in summer. Stand on the east side facing the clock face, which is the side with the figures, and look up.

The show lasts only a short time, so keep your camera ready. Many visitors find the best view is from a little further back along Kramgasse, which lets you see the whole tower and the arcades in one shot. In winter the dark evenings add atmosphere, and the clock is lit.

You can also go inside. Guided tours of the clockwork lead up through the tower and let you see the mechanism that moves the dials and the figures, which is a rare chance to look at a working medieval machine at close range. Tours run in English on a schedule and they have limited places, so book ahead through the city tourist office.

The climb involves steep stairs and narrow spaces, so it is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility, and children should be old enough to manage stairs safely. Check current tour times before planning, since the tower is a working monument and schedules change with the seasons.

The area around the tower has its own interest. The Kramgasse leads east toward the Einstein House and the river, while Marktgasse runs west to the station past the Käfigturm. Cafes in the arcades give you a good place to wait for the hour with a coffee, and the little side streets include some of the best chocolate and pastry shops in the Old Town.

Because it sits on the main route, the tower is free to look at from the street at any hour. For a quieter experience, visit early in the morning or late in the evening, when you can see the clock and the arcades with almost nobody else around.

Look closely at the face of the clock as well as the show. The main dial tracks the position of the sun and the moon through the zodiac, and the smaller dials give the calendar information, so it is a working instrument as much as a decoration. Photographs work best in early evening light.