Old City (Bern): Difference between revisions
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===First Expansion - 1191=== |
===First Expansion - 1191=== |
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The first expansion of Berne occured as the city was founded. Most likely the first city started at |
The first expansion of Berne occured as the city was founded. Most likely the first city started at Nydegg Castle and reached to the [[Zytglogge]] ([[Swiss German]]: clock tower). The city was divided by three longitudinal streets, which stretched from the Castle to the city wall. Both the position of the town church and the shape of the eaves were typical for a Zähringer city. |
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During the first half of the 13<sup>th</sup> Century two additional streets (''Brunngasse'' and ''Herrengasse'')were added. ''Brunngasse'' was a semi-circular street on the north edge of the city, while ''Herrengasse'' was on the south side of the city. A wood bridge was built over the Aare River which allowed increased trade and limited settlements on the east bank of the river. |
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===Second Expansion - 1255 to 1260=== |
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During the second half of the 13<sup>th</sup> Century the river side foundation of Nydegg Castle was strengthened and connected to a new west city wall. This wall was added to protect the four streets, known as the New City or Savoy City, that had sprung up outside the Zytglogge. The new west wall included a gate known as the ''Käfigturm'' (German: Prision Tower). |
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Around [[1268]] Nydegg Castle was destroyed, and the city expanded into the area formerly occupied by the castle.{{ref|reference 2}} In the south east part of the peninsula below the main hill that the rest of the Old City occupied, a section known as ''Matte'' grew up. |
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==See Also== |
==See Also== |
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Revision as of 14:27, 12 November 2007
The Old Town of Berne is a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in Switzerland. The Old Town was founded on a narrow hill surrounded on three sides by the Aare River in 1191. Following a major fire in 1405 the city was rebuilt in sandstone, which gave the city a homogenous appearance. Despite reconstruction in the 18th Century, the original character of the medival town has remained. In addition to many historical buildings, the Old Town is also home to many of the Confederation government buildings.
History of the Old Town
- See also: Early history of Switzerland , History of Berne
The earliest settlements in the Aare Valley date back to the Neolithic period. During the 2nd century BCE the valley was settled by the Helvetii. Following the Roman conquest of Helvetia a small Roman settlement was established near the Old Town. This settlement was abandoned during the 2nd century AD. From that time until the founding of Berne the area remained sparsely settled.
Founding of Berne
The history of the city of Berne proper begins with its founding by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen in 1191. Local legend has it that the duke vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on the hunt, which turned out to be a bear. Both the name of the city (Bern can stand for Bär(e)n, bears) and its heraldic beast, come from this legend. At that time, much of today's Switzerland (then considered part of southern Burgundy) was under the authority of the house of Zähringen. The Zähringer leaders, although with no actual duchy of their own, were styled dukes by decree of the German king and exercised imperial power south of the Rhine. To establish their position there, they founded or expanded numerous settlements, including Fribourg (in 1157), Berne, Burgdorf and Morat.[1]
The area chosen by Berchtold V was a hilly peninsula surrounded by the Aare river on three sides. This location made the city easy to defend and influenced the later development of the city. The long, narrow shape of the peninsula made the city develop as several long, parallel rows of houses. The only major cross streets (going north and south) developed along the city walls, which were moved to allow the city to expand. Therefore, the cross streets mark the stages of development in the Old City of Berne.
On the eastern end of the peninsula a small fort, called Castle Nydegg, was founded by Berchtold IV in the second half of the 12th Century. Either when the fort was built or in 1191, the town of Berne was founded around the eastern end of the peninsula.[2]
First Expansion - 1191
The first expansion of Berne occured as the city was founded. Most likely the first city started at Nydegg Castle and reached to the Zytglogge (Swiss German: clock tower). The city was divided by three longitudinal streets, which stretched from the Castle to the city wall. Both the position of the town church and the shape of the eaves were typical for a Zähringer city.
During the first half of the 13th Century two additional streets (Brunngasse and Herrengasse)were added. Brunngasse was a semi-circular street on the north edge of the city, while Herrengasse was on the south side of the city. A wood bridge was built over the Aare River which allowed increased trade and limited settlements on the east bank of the river.
Second Expansion - 1255 to 1260
During the second half of the 13th Century the river side foundation of Nydegg Castle was strengthened and connected to a new west city wall. This wall was added to protect the four streets, known as the New City or Savoy City, that had sprung up outside the Zytglogge. The new west wall included a gate known as the Käfigturm (German: Prision Tower).
Around 1268 Nydegg Castle was destroyed, and the city expanded into the area formerly occupied by the castle.[1] In the south east part of the peninsula below the main hill that the rest of the Old City occupied, a section known as Matte grew up.
See Also
List of World Heritage Sites in Europe
References
- ^ Zähringen, von in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- ^ Bern (Gemeinde) Section 1.4 in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.Error in template * invalid parameter (Template:HDS): "1"