Bern - City of the Zähringers

The region of Bern was settled as early as prehistoric times, and later by Celts, Romans and Germanic tribes.

In 1191 Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded the City of Bern. The Zähringers came from a Swabian family of noble descent, rulers of the dukedom of Breisgau (now the German region north of the Rhine bordering Switzerland). The German Emperor appointed them Chancellors of Burgundy (roughly present-day Burgundy in France as well as the territory west of the River Aare in today's French-speaking Switzerland). As chancellors they were entrusted with representing the Emperor and protecting his interests against rebellious nobles, as well as ensuring safe access to the strategically important alpine passes in the Burgundy region, which were vital to the Emperor's rule over north and south, running as they did from present-day Germany to present-day Italy.

Construction of Bern on the Aare peninsula. Natural protection on three sides; walls and watch-tower on the fourth side (now the Clock Tower), city moats. Berchtold V built the city according to a clearly defined plan, starting with the lowest edge (Nydegg) and proceeding in a westerly direction. Characteristic features common to all Zähringer cities: broad street for market (no central square); advanced infrastructure with utility water source (Stadtbach), sewage (Ehgräben) and drinking water supply (Quellfassung); right-angle street grid; lots divided into tracts of equal dimensions (so-called homesteads measuring 100x60 feet); imperial citadel (Nydegg Fortress, now the site of the Nydegg Church) separated from the main city: public buildings (Cathedral and Town Hall) set aside from the main city axis (which was reserved for commercial purposes).

In 1218 the last of the Zähringer line died and Bern came under direct imperial rule. This immediacy was a major advantage. The city was granted various important privileges (self-administration, own court of justice, own market), as a result of which its power and influence gradually grew and the city evolved into the mightiest city-state north of the Alps (until 1798).

Further expansion of the city to the west (Prison Tower, Christoffel Tower). Bern, one of the finest examples of medieval civic architecture in Europe. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

15 other Zähringer cities!

The Zähringers were great city builders and built a large number of other cities besides Bern, both in Switzerland and Germany. A tour of these architectural gems is highly recommended, not least because they are situated amidst such charming landscapes: the Schweizer Mittelland (3-lake region, near the Bernese Oberland) and the Black Forest (Germany).

Cities of the Zähringers on the web:

Rheinfelden (CH)
Thun (CH)
Bräunlingen (DE)
Freiburg (DE)
Neuenburg (DE)
Villingen-Schwenningen (DE)