Old Town section of Bern, Switzerland

The lights of Old Town. Old Town section of Bern, Switzerland

Welcome to a wintry wonderland in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. We’re in the city’s medieval center – Old Town – which looks much as it did when many of these buildings were constructed between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Old Town was founded in 1191 on a long, narrow peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. Today, visitors and locals alike enjoy strolling down quaint alleyways and cobblestoned streets amidst the charming medieval buildings. In winter, many stop here en route to ski on the nearby Bernese Oberland mountains or to visit the Schwarzsee ice palaces.

Those in the know also suggest a climb to the top of the Bernese Minster, the highest church spire in all of Switzerland, seen in our photo. It’s just 312 steps to the viewing deck, but we hear the panorama of snowy rooftops and the nearby peaks is worth the climb.