Zähringerbrunnen, Renaissance fountain in Kramgasse, Bern, Switzerland
The Zähringer Fountain is a Renaissance structure on Kramgasse featuring a central armored bear holding a shield and banner with the golden Zähringen lion on a red background. It functions as a drinking water source while serving as a landmark that helps orient visitors moving through the city center.
The fountain was built in 1535 by Hans Hiltprand below the Zytglogge tower, before Kramgasse 63/66. It commemorates Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, whom legend credits with founding Bern after shooting a bear on the Aare peninsula. The name Zähringerbrunnen only became current in the 19th century; it was also called Finstergässlibrunnen or Bärenbrunnen. In 1889 the octagonal basin dated 1542 was replaced by a replica of the Pfeiferbrunnen basin, and the column and figure were repainted; the fountain was restored in 2014.
The armored bear with shield and banner represents both Bern's symbol and the legacy of the Zähringen dynasty through heraldic imagery. This combination of military and dynastic symbols shapes how people relate to the space today.
The fountain sits directly on Kramgasse and is easy to locate while walking along the main shopping street. The water is drinkable and the spot serves naturally as a gathering place to pause or get your bearings.
The bear cub eating a grape sits between the legs of the large armored bear, not on the basin. The figure faces east, and the fountain stands below the Zytglogge tower in front of Kramgasse 63/66.
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