Zytglogge Tower

Address: Zytglogge, Kramgasse 49, 3011 Bern, Switzerland

Website: https://www.bern.com/en/detail/zytglogge/129

Hours: Public square 24/7; tower guided tours vary seasonally (check Bern Tourism)

Admission: CHF 0 (public clock tower), guided tower tours vary

The Zytglogge is Bern’s medieval clock tower and one of the city’s principal landmarks, located in the heart of the Old City. The tower dates to the early 13th century and its ornate astronomical clock mechanism and painted dial date from the early 16th century.

The tower originally served as a gate and watchtower in Bern’s medieval fortifications and later became the city’s main clock. The 16th-century clockwork includes an astronomical dial and a mechanical procession of carved figures that move at the hour.

Today the Zytglogge is a major focal point in Bern’s UNESCO-listed Old City; the tower can be viewed from the surrounding square and guided interior visits explain its historical functions and the clock mechanism.

It sits on Kramgasse in central Bern, within the compact, pedestrianised old town.

• Age and UNESCO status: Built in the early 13th century and refurbished with the current clockwork around 1530, it forms a focal point of Bern’s UNESCO-listed Old City.
• Hourly clock show: A mechanical show of carved figures plays each hour and is best seen from the pavement in front of the tower at the top of the hour.

What to See#

• Astronomical clock: The astronomical clock mechanism with its painted dial and moving figures dates to the early 16th century and performs a short animated sequence on the hour.
• Viewing level and watchtower: The tower interior includes a staircase and viewing level that historically served as a city gate and watchtower in Bern’s medieval defences.

The Zytglogge sits in Bern’s UNESCO Old Town, a short walk from Bern Hauptbahnhof (10-15 minutes). The Kramgasse is pedestrianised and well signed; the tower is accessible on foot as part of walking tours of the old town.

• See the Zytglogge's mechanical show at the top of the hour for a brief, charming automaton performance.
• Join a guided tour to enter the clockwork chamber and learn about the 15th‑century mechanisms and Urbain's restorations.
• Avoid midday crowds by visiting early morning or after 5pm; the clock façade is best photographed in the soft morning light.