Zytglogge, Medieval clock tower in Green Quarter, Bern, Switzerland.
The Zytglogge is a sandstone tower in Bern that rises roughly 55 meters high and displays large clock faces on its east and west sides. These show not only the time but also information about zodiac signs and moon phases.
The tower originated in 1220 as part of Bern's western fortifications, initially serving as a guard post. Over the centuries its functions shifted, and a large bell cast in 1405 continues to define the city's soundscape today.
The tower was long the heartbeat of Bern's daily life, and people organized their routines around its bell strikes. The mechanical figures that perform before each hour reflect how the city historically understood time and rhythm.
You can view the structure from outside at any time, and guided tours are available for those wanting to see the clock mechanisms from the inside. The best view of the figures and clock faces comes from standing directly in front of it or observing from the surrounding balconies.
A gilded figure representing the god Chronos has moved the great bell for centuries without pause. This mechanical figure is the oldest still-functioning part of the system and often goes unnoticed despite being the true heart of the tower's operation.
Location: Bern
Inception: 1220
Architectural style: Romanesque architecture
Elevation above the sea: 540.5 m
Height: 54.5 m
Made from material: Bernese sandstone
Part of: list of cultural properties in Bern / Inner City (East), Old City of Bern
Address: Bim Zytglogge 3, 3011 Bern
Website: http://zeitglockenturm.ch
GPS coordinates: 46.94806,7.44778
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:01
Bell towers from different periods and architectural styles across Europe. These structures display regional building traditions and function as landmarks in their cities
Clock towers combine technical precision with architectural styles from different periods and cultures. These highly visible structures stand in city centers, university campuses and historic squares, where they structure public life. The collection includes varied examples: the 315 foot (96 meter) neo-Gothic bell tower at Westminster Palace in London, the 1,970 foot (601 meter) Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, the Spasskaya Tower on Red Square in Moscow, the 279 foot (85 meter) neo-Gothic Rajabai Tower in Mumbai, the medieval astronomical clock at Old Town Hall in Prague, the 13th century Zytglogge in Bern, the Giralda in Seville (originally an Almohad minaret), the 548 foot (167 meter) Philadelphia City Hall tower, the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the 308 foot (94 meter) Sather Tower at the University of California Berkeley, the Zimmer Tower in Lier, the Custom House Tower in Boston, the Mughal era Ghanta Ghar in Lahore, the Union Station clock tower in Waterbury, the Renaissance clock tower on St. Mark's Square in Venice, the Jam Gadang in Bukittinggi and the Jaffa Clock Tower in Tel Aviv. Many of these towers serve as urban landmarks and connect historic architecture with practical function. They frequently offer elevated viewpoints and display remarkable mechanical achievements in timekeeping.
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