Zytglogge, Medieval clock tower in the Old City, 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.
Built around 1218–1220 as the western gate tower of Bern's first city wall, the Zytglogge stood only 16 metres tall. It was heightened around 1270–1275 and later served as a women's prison. After burning out in 1405, it was rebuilt as a clock tower; Kaspar Brunner rebuilt the clockwork in 1527–1530.
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.
The bearded Chronos figure does not strike the bell: he turns an hourglass, raises his sceptre to order the hour, and counts the strokes. The gilded knight Hans von Thann, in the spire, swings the hammer against the great bell, while a standing lion turns its head as if listening.
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