Zytglogge
The Zytglogge is Bern's medieval clock tower, originally built as a city gate around 1218-1220 before being converted into a clock tower and prison in the 15th century. Its astronomical clock, added in 1530, still runs on its original mechanism and puts on a small show of moving figures — a jester, a rooster, a procession of bears and Father Time — a few minutes before each hour, drawing a small crowd of onlookers who gather to watch.
As the point from which all distances in the canton were historically measured, it functions as the symbolic center of Bern, and the guided tour up into the clockwork itself is worth booking ahead if you want to see the mechanism, since regular admission only gets you the street-level view.
Zytglogge FAQs
Only on a guided tour, run a few times daily and bookable through Bern Tourism — regular visitors only see the tower from the street.
A few minutes before each hour, moving figures on the clock face perform — a jester, rooster, and a procession including a bear.
Yes, watching from the street is free; only the interior tour requires a ticket.
About 30-45 minutes, though it needs to be booked ahead as space is limited.
It was originally a city gate around 1220 before being converted into a clock tower, and served as the point from which all distances in the canton of Bern were historically measured.
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