Old Town, Bern, Switzerland

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Bern, Switzerland

Welcome to a wintry wonderland in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. We’re in the city’s medieval centre – 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 enjoy walking down quaint alleyways and cobblestoned streets amidst the charming medieval buildings. In winter, many stop here on their way to ski at the nearby Bernese Oberland mountains or to visit the Schwarzsee ice palaces. In our photo, you can see the towering Bern Minster, the highest church spire in all of Switzerland. It’s just 312 steps to the viewing deck, and the panorama of snowy rooftops and nearby peaks is worth the climb.