Ring, Medieval square in the Old Town of Biel/Bienne, Switzerland

The Ring is a trapezoidal medieval square at the centre of Biel/Bienne's Old Town, where Obergässli, Untergässli, Kirchgässli and Obergasse meet. The Stadtkirche, the Vennerbrunnen fountain and former guild houses frame it, and arcades (Lauben) narrow the open space; the arcades on the uphill side stand higher because the square was levelled.

The Ring was likely a trading site before Biel was founded; the first settlement was a ring of houses and a church around it, with a cemetery by the church. The market is documented in 1230. A feud between the prince-bishop and Biel's alliance with Bern led to a fire in 1367 that destroyed the castle and many wooden buildings; rebuilding followed the earlier street plan. From 1541 the square was remodelled: the cemetery was moved outside the walls, the square was paved, and in 1546 the wooden fountain was replaced by a stone trough.

The square's name, the Ring, refers to the ring of houses and the church that formed Biel's first settlement. The medieval building backdrop now hosts the Pod Ring cultural festival, First Friday old-town evenings, children's fairs, flea markets and a suitcase market.

The square is easily reached via several approach streets and is best explored on foot. Commercial deliveries require permits and are restricted to specific hours to keep the area safe for pedestrians.

The square preserves its medieval street layout with paths converging from different directions at unusual angles, creating an irregular pattern. This layout visibly shows how the city developed organically over centuries rather than following a planned grid.