Béatrice von Wattenwyl House

About the building

From Junkerngasse the house hardly stands out: its street facades are plain and give no hint of the rich palace behind them. The real show front faces south and is best seen from the Münsterplattform. There a noble baroque building appears, with an open staircase, a balcony, a triangular pediment bearing the arms of the Frisching family, and a roof turret. In front of it, terraces and gardens descend in steps towards the Aare slope. An imaginary axis 100 metres long runs through the house and gardens.

The history of the house begins in the 16th century. In 1529 Hans Frisching, mercenary leader, bailiff and later member of the Small Council, acquired the former town house of the Frienisberg monastery. For many generations it remained the town seat of the patrician Frisching family. Samuel Frisching, later chief magistrate (Schultheiss), had the Gothic house rebuilt to plans by Joseph Abeille: according to the city of Bern he joined two buildings in 1705 and rebuilt the south wing; Wikipedia gives 1705 to 1706, Wikidata 1707. The city calls the building the first pure Louis XIV building in Bernese architecture.

In 1838 the house passed by inheritance to the von Wattenwyl family. In 1929 Jakob Emanuel von Wattenwyl concluded a deed of gift with the Swiss Confederation; after his death in 1934 the house passed to the federal state and has since borne the name of his wife, Béatrice von Wattenwyl. The gift also included the house opposite at Junkerngasse 54, which once served as stable, coach house and quarters for servants.

Today the Federal Council uses the house for receptions. Since 1970 the Federal Council and the governing parties have met here regularly for the Von Wattenwyl talks, named after the house. It is managed by the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics. The house is a cultural property of national importance.

A detail to look for: the Frisching coat of arms in the pediment of the south facade, clearly visible from the Münsterplattform.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Stadt Bern: Altstadtbeschriftung, Texte dreisprachig (Junkerngasse 59) · Wikipedia (de): Béatrice-von-Wattenwyl-Haus · Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Untere Altstadt (alle Adressen) · Wikidata: Q1019354