Zeitglockenturm (Zytglogge) Clock Tower of Berne

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Bern’s first Western Gate (1191 - 1256).

Ar Zytglogge Clock Bern Switzerland by Local Guide @SirB
Ar Zytglogge Clock Bern Switzerland by Local Guide @SirB1238×2102 724 KB

This was served as Bern’s gate tower, around 1218 as the western fortifications of this city. It’s one of the most popular and recognisable monument of Bern. The Clock Tower had undergone numerous renovations for the past 800 years and still retain its façade and mechanical properties. This is of course part of Old City of Bern which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Zytglogge Clock with its ornate astronomical calendar clock.
The Zytglogge Clock with its ornate astronomical calendar clock.2504×5016 2.55 MB

The original name is of Bernese German which translates to time bell in English and Glocke is German for bell. This is one of the earliest timekeeping devices. The tower was previously referred to as kerbie, meaning cage as in ‘prison’ but after its reconstruction it became known as nüwer turn meaning new tower.

The Zytglogge east façade front at Kramgasse end (Grocers Alley)
The Zytglogge east façade front at Kramgasse end (Grocers Alley)2988×3839 2.3 MB

I couldn’t get inside to explore the mechanism of this Clock as I missed the guided tour! However, the interior had gone through changes from a guard tower to city prison to clock tower.

The Zähringerbrunnen fountain with the Zytglogge Clock in the background by Local Guide @SirB
The Zähringerbrunnen fountain with the Zytglogge Clock in the background by Local Guide @SirB2988×4448 2.56 MB

Apparently, this Clock Tower supposedly "helped Albert Einstein refined his Theory of Relativity while working as a patent clerk in Bern (Lonely Planet).

This certainly is a spectacular monument and an unmistakable landmark of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Even when I arrived here, there was a light dusting of snow which gives this place a rather foreboding ambience but added to the intriguing atmosphere!

Bern is certainly a great destination and a beautiful city to visit. Not only its the "defacto capital city of Switzerland" as Switzerland doesn’t have an official capital city!

The old city of Bern now listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. With the Zähringerbrunnen fountain in the middle of this gorgeous city. By LG@SirB
The old city of Bern now listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. With the Zähringerbrunnen fountain in the middle of this gorgeous city. By LG@SirB2988×2723 2.25 MB

Happy Travelling and Connecting :+1:

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Hi @SirB ,

Thanks a lot for the nice post!

I’ve never been in Bern and with your post I’ve learned new things about the Zeitglockenturm there. You made fantastic photos and I am sire you have more from the city so it would be nice if you create a post about Bern with more description and photos of it.

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Hiya @PoliMC

Thanks ever so much for stopping by and for your valuable feedback. Really appreciate it!

Bern is a beautiful city! I’ve been there a few times & mainly in Winter as the only time I can travel from Sydney. Little tip, stay somewhere like Annemasse on the border with Geneva as it’s more affordable and still accessible to Switzerland and her locale. Better still, stay with friends (like I did in Annemasse) as Geneva can be very pricey!

I’ll try and post more about Bern when I have the opportunity. I find that posting here can be challenging but also most of the photos I have are “high quality” which pose a problem when uploading as they’re over the limit required.

Thanks again for your interests and advice and see you on the flip side :blush::+1::pray:

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Hi @SirB ,

Thanks a lot for your reply and for the tips!

We will wait for your great post bout Bern and you are welcome! Here you can find more information about how to post: 14 helpful tips for using Connect. The tips will be very helpful.

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Hiya @PoliMC

Thanks again for the great tips and I’ll be sure to write a post on Bern.

All the best!

Cheers

SirB

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