RoutesHiking trails & RoutesSwitzerlandEspace MittellandBernBern-Mittelland
Bern old town – Bern Minster (Berner Münster) loop from Bern Felsenau
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesSwitzerlandEspace MittellandBernBern-Mittelland
Bern old town – Bern Minster (Berner Münster) loop from Bern Felsenau
Moderate
4.7
(27)
220
hikers
Bern old town – Bern Minster (Berner Münster) loop from Bern Felsenau
03:01
10.9km
190m
Hiking
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: May 22, 2026
Waypoints
A
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
1
2.96 km
Federal Palace of Switzerland (Bundeshaus)
Highlight • Historical Site
Federal Palace Bern, history
On April 1, 1902, the new building was ceremoniously handed over to the Swiss Confederation.
Where a music hall and an old hospital once stood, parliament and government now meet. The Federal Palace in Bern has its task of uniting the country's inhabitants literally carved in stone.
When the Federal Constitution came into force on September 12, 1848, the question of where the government and parliament should be located was not yet clear. It was not until November that the Federal Assembly decided on Bern as the seat of the authorities. Two years later, the Bern municipal council announced an architectural competition for the "Federal City Hall". In the meantime, the Federal Council met in the Erlacherhof, the current seat of the Bern government.
With the total revision of the Federal Constitution in 1874, the federal government was suddenly given new areas of responsibility that had previously been the responsibility of the cantons. The administration soon reached its space limits and a new building was needed. The city therefore handed over its responsibility to the federal government two years later. In 1880, he bought the Inselspital building, which had to make way for the new Federal Palace seven years later. An architectural competition was held again, and Alfred Friedrich Bluntschli and Hans Wilhelm Auer were chosen as the winners. This is how today's Federal Palace East was created, a symmetrical counterpart to the existing "Federal City Hall" in the west.
Eleven years later, the two architects Bluntschli and Auer were invited to another competition, this time for a parliament building between the two administrative wings. Although an international committee of architects was called upon to select the best design, in 1891 the Federal Council decided on its own authority to accept Hans Wilhelm Auer's proposal. This proposed a domed building in the style of the Capitol in Washington D.C. After several years of work, 30 types of Swiss stone were used with the help of 38 local artists to create a national monument with an impact on all cantons. The new building was ceremoniously handed over to the Swiss Confederation on April 1, 1902. The building cost 7.2 million Swiss francs – compared to today's conditions, this would be equivalent to around 700 million Swiss francs.
Text / Source: SRF Swiss Radio and Television
srf.ch/news/bundeshaus-und-parlament-geschichte-des-bundeshäuser
On April 1, 1902, the new building was ceremoniously handed over to the Swiss Confederation.
Where a music hall and an old hospital once stood, parliament and government now meet. The Federal Palace in Bern has its task of uniting the country's inhabitants literally carved in stone.
When the Federal Constitution came into force on September 12, 1848, the question of where the government and parliament should be located was not yet clear. It was not until November that the Federal Assembly decided on Bern as the seat of the authorities. Two years later, the Bern municipal council announced an architectural competition for the "Federal City Hall". In the meantime, the Federal Council met in the Erlacherhof, the current seat of the Bern government.
With the total revision of the Federal Constitution in 1874, the federal government was suddenly given new areas of responsibility that had previously been the responsibility of the cantons. The administration soon reached its space limits and a new building was needed. The city therefore handed over its responsibility to the federal government two years later. In 1880, he bought the Inselspital building, which had to make way for the new Federal Palace seven years later. An architectural competition was held again, and Alfred Friedrich Bluntschli and Hans Wilhelm Auer were chosen as the winners. This is how today's Federal Palace East was created, a symmetrical counterpart to the existing "Federal City Hall" in the west.
Eleven years later, the two architects Bluntschli and Auer were invited to another competition, this time for a parliament building between the two administrative wings. Although an international committee of architects was called upon to select the best design, in 1891 the Federal Council decided on its own authority to accept Hans Wilhelm Auer's proposal. This proposed a domed building in the style of the Capitol in Washington D.C. After several years of work, 30 types of Swiss stone were used with the help of 38 local artists to create a national monument with an impact on all cantons. The new building was ceremoniously handed over to the Swiss Confederation on April 1, 1902. The building cost 7.2 million Swiss francs – compared to today's conditions, this would be equivalent to around 700 million Swiss francs.
Text / Source: SRF Swiss Radio and Television
srf.ch/news/bundeshaus-und-parlament-geschichte-des-bundeshäuser
Translated by Google •
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2
3.32 km
View of the Aare from the Federal Palace
Highlight • Viewpoint
3
3.64 km
Bern old town
Highlight • Historical Site
The old town of Bern is like a living fairy tale book. 🌟🕰️ With its cobbled streets, historic buildings and charming squares, it exudes a unique charm that immediately captivates visitors.
Translated by Google •
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4
3.68 km
Zytglogge Clock Tower
Highlight • Monument
Originally a defensive tower, it was converted into a prison in the 13th century and later into a clock tower. Today, it houses one of the oldest astronomical clocks in Switzerland and a carillon.
The Zytglogge is famous for its intricate clock, which not only tells the time but also depicts the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. It also features playful figures that move at specific times.
The Zytglogge is famous for its intricate clock, which not only tells the time but also depicts the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. It also features playful figures that move at specific times.
Translated by Google •
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5
4.06 km
The Bernese arbors
Highlight • Monument
We call the arcades here in Bern "Lauben". The total of six kilometers of arcades in Bern's old town form the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. The arcades are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city of Bern.
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6
5.69 km
View of Bern Cathedral and the Matteschwelle
Highlight • Viewpoint
Viewpoint with the possibility of walking directly to the water. There is also a very nice restaurant right on the waterfall.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
7.39 km
View from Münsterpromenade
Highlight • Viewpoint
The Münsterpromenade in Bern is a historic terrace right next to the Bern Minster. It offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the old town, the Aare and the surrounding mountains. This area was formerly the churchyard of the St. Vincenz Minster and was expanded in 1897 with the Mattenlift, also known as the "Senkeltram".
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
7.44 km
Bern Minster (Berner Münster)
Highlight • Religious Site
Bern Minster
The history of Bern Minster reflects the political developments and economic conditions in Bern. The city was founded in 1191 by the Dukes of Zähringen and has been a free imperial city since the granting of charters in 1218.
At the beginning of the 15th century, Bern was still a relatively small city with only about 5,000 inhabitants. Since its foundation in 1191, it had slowly grown from the Untertorbrücke/Nydegg Castle via the Zytglogge and the Käfigturm to the Christoffelturm near today's train station. Courtyards and gardens behind the houses made up a large part of the urban area. In this sense, the city was much more "rural" than we are used to from a city today. This applies not least to the smells and noise.
In the course of the 14th century, the city had already connected large parts of today's cantonal territory in terms of power politics - albeit initially loosely and mediatized through intermediaries and not in the sense of modern-day national sovereignty. Bern was already much more than just the city in the bend of the Aare - but the outlines of the later powerful city-state were only just beginning to emerge. With the conquest of Aargau in 1415 and the granting of royal privileges by Sigismund of Luxembourg-Bohemia in the same year, the city was able to expand its independence and, immediately before the cathedral was built, had an extensive territory secured in the east by the Swiss allies.
Text / Source: Bern Minster, Münsterplatz 1, Bern
bernermuenster.ch/bauwerk/geschichte
The history of Bern Minster reflects the political developments and economic conditions in Bern. The city was founded in 1191 by the Dukes of Zähringen and has been a free imperial city since the granting of charters in 1218.
At the beginning of the 15th century, Bern was still a relatively small city with only about 5,000 inhabitants. Since its foundation in 1191, it had slowly grown from the Untertorbrücke/Nydegg Castle via the Zytglogge and the Käfigturm to the Christoffelturm near today's train station. Courtyards and gardens behind the houses made up a large part of the urban area. In this sense, the city was much more "rural" than we are used to from a city today. This applies not least to the smells and noise.
In the course of the 14th century, the city had already connected large parts of today's cantonal territory in terms of power politics - albeit initially loosely and mediatized through intermediaries and not in the sense of modern-day national sovereignty. Bern was already much more than just the city in the bend of the Aare - but the outlines of the later powerful city-state were only just beginning to emerge. With the conquest of Aargau in 1415 and the granting of royal privileges by Sigismund of Luxembourg-Bohemia in the same year, the city was able to expand its independence and, immediately before the cathedral was built, had an extensive territory secured in the east by the Swiss allies.
Text / Source: Bern Minster, Münsterplatz 1, Bern
bernermuenster.ch/bauwerk/geschichte
Translated by Google •
Tip by
10.1 km
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
B
10.9 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
6.92 km
2.24 km
1.47 km
121 m
< 100 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
6.18 km
3.47 km
936 m
276 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Highest point (560 m)
Lowest point (500 m)
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Weather
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Thursday 9 July
34°C
16°C
13 %
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Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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