Christoffelturm, Medieval defensive tower near Holy Spirit Church, Bern, Switzerland.
The Christoffelturm was a medieval defensive tower located in the upper part of Spitalgasse and featured a 9.7-meter wooden statue of Saint Christopher in a niche on its front wall. The remains of its foundation can still be seen today in the underpass connecting Loebegge to Bern railway station.
The tower was built between 1344 and 1346 and served as an important part of Bern's city defenses for centuries. It was demolished in 1865 following a narrow vote by the city council.
The wooden statue of Saint Christopher originally represented the patron of travelers, but became a gatekeeper figure after the Reformation in 1528. This transformation shows how religious changes shaped the appearance and meaning of city structures.
The best time to explore the site is during business hours when the underground passages are accessible. The location is easy to reach along the route between the city center and the train station, making it convenient to include in a city walk.
The head of the original wooden Saint Christopher statue survives and is now preserved in the Historical Museum of Bern. This fragment allows visitors to see a piece of the original tower even though the structure itself was torn down long ago.
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