From the hustle and bustle of the city to untouched landscapes – the destination Bern is full of interesting contrasts. We recommend combining the scenic cycling experience in the Gantrisch Nature Park with a visit to Bern’s Old City.
How Bern ticks
The bell of the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) in the heart of the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has reliably struck every hour for over 600 years. For the past 40, Markus Marti has been its timekeeper, a duty that brings him great joy. If you would like to see the inside of the famous tower and its 13th-century clock mechanism, you can book the Zytglogge (Clock Tower) tour.
«The clock announces that another hour of our lives is about to elapse.»
Markus Marti, timekeeper of Bern’s Zytglogge
After the visit, hop on an e-bike and head to the Museum of Communication, winner of the 2019 Council of Europe Museum Prize, in Bern’s museum district. The focus at this renowned museum is on dialogue in all its facets. Martha Mundschin is a communicator at the museum and invites visitors to start a dialogue at eye level. How about “Planetopia – Space for World Change”, for example, a participative project with pop ups and events where answers to the environmental crisis are discussed?
After gathering impressions at the Museum of Communication, the stylish Kunsthalle Bar is the perfect place to end the day. It is a walk-in sculpture that seems to float among the trees above the Aare river. The view of Bern’s Old City, combined with a local beer and a creative snack platter, round off the day in the city.
“Tales of the Gantrisch” Cycling Route
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast at a hotel in the heart of Bern, it’s time to get back on the e-bike and head to Gantrisch Nature Park. The scenic cycling route has a lot to offer: There are six experience sites along the loop trail at which you can stop and listen to different legends and tales from the region on your phone or read them on the info panels. The stories are told in French or Swiss German. On the “Tales of the Gantrisch” Cycling Route, bicycle trekkers have the opportunity to dive into the history of the region and draw inspiration from the stories.
«Chatting with the bicycle trekkers from all over Switzerland is wonderful and a nice distraction.”
Sandra Messerli, farmer at Mühlihof farm in Rüschegg-Gambach
Whether you’re in the city or the countryside – in the destination Bern, friendly encounters with natives are commonplace. Be it at a farm shop along “Tales of the Gantrisch” Cycling Route or at the Museum of Communication – guests can look forward to interesting encounters, inspiration, and laid-back attitudes.
