Käfigturm, Medieval fortified tower and city gate in Yellow Quarter, Bern, Switzerland
The Käfigturm is a fortified sandstone tower and former city gate on Marktgasse in Bern's old town, topped by five early Baroque spires with copper roofs. It stands at street level as a passage that pedestrians walk through, and its interior holds exhibition and meeting spaces.
The tower was built in 1256 as the western gate into the growing city of Bern. Heavy damage led to a full reconstruction between 1641 and 1644, when it took on the Baroque appearance it has today.
The name Käfigturm means "cage tower" in German, a direct reference to the cages that once held prisoners inside. Today the building is open to the public and used for exhibitions, giving visitors a reason to step inside and look around.
The tower sits on Marktgasse in the heart of Bern's old town and is easy to reach on foot from most central points. Exhibitions and events inside change regularly, so it is worth checking what is on before visiting.
Until 1897, the inside of the tower was divided into cages where prisoners were held, which is exactly how it got its name. The shift from prison to open public meeting place makes it one of the more unusual transformations in Bern's old town.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
