Béatrice-von-Wattenwyl-Haus, Aristocratic residence in Old City, Bern, Switzerland.
Maison Béatrice de Wattenwyl sits at Junkerngasse 59 and merges several medieval structures with baroque design from the early 1700s. The north facade displays three different medieval house fronts, while the south elevation showcases French baroque details and a grand interior staircase.
Built between 1705 and 1706 by architect Joseph Abeille, the house consolidated several older buildings into a single residence. It first served Samuel Frisching before passing to the von Wattenwyl family, who maintained it through the centuries.
The rooms display original furniture and family portraits spanning generations, showing how a wealthy Bern family lived during the 1700s and 1800s. Walking through these spaces gives you a sense of domestic life from another era.
The house opens to the public only four times per year on specific dates. Checking ahead or registering in advance is recommended since access is limited to these scheduled occasions.
Since 1970, important political discussions known as von Wattenwyl talks have taken place here regularly. These meetings hold special significance in Swiss political history and make the house far more than just a historic home.
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