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Welcome to the Cathedral Tower
The Cathedral of Berne is open every day. Exceptional closures
of church and tower are possible due to weddings, funerals,
constructions etc.
Detailed information is available at our information
desk during business hours.
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SPECIALS
Exceptional closure Friday, 3rd February 2012, from 13.20 h until 15.30 h
The church will be closed on Friday, 3rd February, from 13.20 until 15.30h.
Tower and information desk will be open as usual, from 12 h until 16 h (last admission to the tower at 15.30 h).
Upper platform completely open! Bern from 46 and 64 m and 360°
The upper platform of the tower is now open again to the public. Come and enjoy the breathtaking view from 64 m! We are looking forward to your visit!
Fitness Card The cheapest and most spectacular Fitness Card of Berne
For only CHF 40.- a year, you can climb the 656 steps as many times as you wish and keep healthy and in great shape. It is the Fitness center with the most beautiful and ever changing views, nice receptionists and fresh air.
Enquiries at the information desk of the Cathedral. E-mail: infostelle@bernermuenster.ch or 031 312 04 62
Events and special treats Are you looking for something special?
Are you looking for something special to do with friends, family or your company? Why don't you come on a guided tour through the Cathedral or climb the tallest steeple in Switzerland, admire the bells and enjoy a glass of wine high above Berne's roof tops?
Information and bookings:
Tower warden: 079 760 26 74 or muensterturm@bernermuenster.ch
Information desk: 031 312 04 62 or infostelle@bernermuenster.ch
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Münsterturm
Marie-Therese
Lauper
Münsterplatz 1
Postfach 532
3000 Bern 8
Phone +41 79 760 26 74
e-mail
the warden
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
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Church |
Tower |
17.10.11 - 27.04.12
30.04.12 - 12.10.12
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12:00 - 16:00
10.00 - 17.00
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12:00 - 15:30*
10.00 - 16.30*
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Saturday
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03.04.10 - 28.04.12
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10:00 - 17:00 |
10:00 - 16:30* |
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Sunday
24.10.11 - 29.04.12
06.05.12 - 14.10.12
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11:30 - 16:00
10.00 - 17.00
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11:30 - 15:30*
10.00 - 16.30*
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*last admission to the tower |
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Münsterturm
(photo: Mth Lauper) |
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Tickets
(to the tower) |
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Fees valid from the 15.02.2011
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Individual tickets |
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Adults |
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CHF 5.00 |
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Children (7-16 yrs) |
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CHF 2.00 |
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Group tickets (10+) |
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Adults |
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CHF 3.50 |
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Children (7-16 Jahre) |
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CHF 1.00 |
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Wonderful
views…
The tower of the Cathedral of Berne is not only the
prominent part of the late gothic church, it is also
a marvellous viewpoint. Walk up the 222 steps of the
northern spiral staircase and you will soon see the
clock tower and the unique rooftop gardens of the old
town. On clear days, to the south, you see the beautiful
panorama of the Bernese Alps with its famous peaks the
Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. To the North you see
the Jura chain.
Discovery tour...
Allow a little time to discover many of the details.
The part up to the first balcony (46 m) was built between
1481 and 1588 in the late Gothic style. If you climb
up 90 more steps to the second balcony (64 m), you will
reach the part that was added between 1889 and 1893
in the new Gothic style. The present tower is 101 m
tall, making it the tallest steeple in Switzerland.
On your way up or down, look out for many little
carvings made by the stone masons. As well as the gargoyles
so typical for the late Gothic style, there are also
recent sculptures like the head of the former Mayor
of Berne, or the monkey and the frog. |
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Wonderful views
(photo: Mth Lauper) |
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From far away...
Up to 70 000 people from Switzerland and all around
the world visit the tower every year. Young and old
enjoy the terrific view from the top. People over 70
are invited to record in our golden Tower Book,
so their visit will be remembered for posterity.
If you want to enjoy your climb and the view, make sure
you are in good shape and do not suffer too badly from
vertigo.
Chime of bells...
Do not miss the bells on the way down! In the upper
bell chamber, you can see four of the seven bells of
the Münster. Two of them ring daily. The prayer
bell rings at 11 am and at 3 pm. The Midday bell rings
at noon. The Silver or Hugo bell is the oldest bell
in the tower (1356) and has already been ringing in
the church before it became a Cathedral. In the evening
the poor souls bell rings in the night. It is in the
lower bell chamber, right beside the big bell. The big
bell is 10'000 kg, the biggest bell in Switzerland.
On the other side of the big bell there is the Bourgeois
bell. This bell is only rung once a year by the warden
of the tower. On new year’s eve at midnight, she
hits the bell 12 times to announce the New Year. The
day before major holidays such as Easter, Whitsunday,
Christmas and New Year, you can see and hear all the
bells ring very close between 3 pm and 3.15pm. If you
want to know more about the age, the weight and the
sound of the bells click
here (German).
A special home...
From spring to autumn you can observe the common swift
and the alpine swift racing around the tower hunting
for insects. All year round, many swallows show off
in front of the visitors.
There have been experiments to settle peregrine falcons
on the tower but in vane. Occacionally you can see birds
of prey fly past and they have been known to have had their
dinner on the upper balcony...
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Forty-six meters up
the tower, there is a three room apartment. Until 2007,
this was inhabited by the wardens of the tower. It is
now used by the construction management and by the current
warden who has her office here, high above the old town.
Whether the apartment will ever be lived in again, is
not yet decided.
For centuries, the Tower Wardens had to look out for
fires. They lived down in the town and climbed up for
their duty.
Since the end of the 18th century, a married couple
lived up here, day and night. The apartment was modernized
in 1894 with high standards such as a flush toilet and
central heating.
Since then, the role of the Tower Warden has changed.
Marie-Therese
Lauper does not have to look out for fires anymore,
but she looks after the visitors, answers questions,
gives tours and also substitutes for the church warden.
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The highest office
of Berne
(photo: Mth Lauper) |
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