Art in Bern · Building

Bern Minster

Bern Minster on Münsterplatz is a late Gothic church begun in 1421; its tower, about 100 metres tall, was completed only in 1893.

Visiting

Getting there: Tram 6, 7, 8 or bus 12, 19 to the stop “Zytglogge”.
Open: Church daily, shorter hours in winter than in summer; current times on bernermuenster.ch. Last tower ascent half an hour before closing.
Admission: Church free. Tower: adults CHF 6, children 7 to 16 CHF 3.
Access: Step-free entrance on Münstergasse. Tower: at least 254 steps, no lift.
Tip: Two viewing galleries at 46 and 64 metres. The Münsterplattform next door is open around the clock; the Mattelift goes from there down to the Matte.

Checked 24 October 2026. Sources: Berner Münster – Öffnungszeiten · Berner Münster – Turmbesteigung · Berner Münster – Anfahrt · Bern Welcome – Minster Terrace

Address: Münsterplatz 1
Built: begun 1421; tower completed 1889–1893
Architect: Matthäus Ensinger (first master builder), Erhart Küng, Daniel Heintz and others; spire designed by August Beyer
Style: Late Gothic
Today: Reformed church
Protection: cultural property of national significance (KGS A), worthy of protection (Bauinventar)

About the building

From Münsterplatz your eye first falls on the main portal: in its porch, 234 sandstone figures show the Last Judgement, among them the wise and the foolish virgins. Above it rises the tower, at just over 100 metres the tallest church tower in Switzerland. The Minster is the largest late medieval church in the country and a cultural property of national importance.

In 1420 the Great Council decided to build a new church, and on 11 March 1421 the foundation stone was laid. On this spot stood the parish church, whose second building had been begun around 1277/80. The new church grew around it piece by piece, and the old one was demolished in stages, its tower last of all in 1493. The builders were the city of Bern and the Teutonic Order; the work was paid for with indulgences and public funds, while wealthy families, guilds and confraternities donated chapels and choir windows. The first master builder was Matthäus Ensinger, from 1420 to 1446. He combined the three west portals into a single, richly decorated porch. The figures of the main portal were made by Erhart Küng from about 1460; around 1485 the portal was finished.

The choir vault was built from 1515 to 1517 and, because of its figures, is called the "Heavenly Court". With the Reformation of 1528 construction stalled, and in the portal the figure of the Virgin Mary was replaced in 1575 by a Justice by Daniel Heintz. In 1571 work was resumed; the vault of the nave followed, in 1571/1575 according to the Minster foundation, in 1573 according to Wikipedia. On the tower, a corner pier had begun to sink as early as 1493. In 1521 work stopped at about 61 metres. Only the Minster building association, founded in 1881, brought completion: from 1889 to 1893 the upper octagon and the spire were built, now of the more weather-resistant Obernkirchen sandstone from Lower Saxony instead of Bernese sandstone.

Because of air pollution, the 47 life-size portal figures were replaced by copies in the 20th century; the originals can be seen in the Bern Historical Museum. Today the Minster is a Reformed church whose fabric is maintained by its own Minster workshop. 222 steps lead to the first tower gallery at 46 metres, and another 90 to the second at 64 metres. From 1798 to 2007 a tower keeper lived at a height of 46 metres.

A detail to look for: the fine cracks in the lower tower, which still tell of the settling of the foundations.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Berner Münster-Stiftung: Geschichte, Werkmeister und Bauetappen des Münsters (Infoblatt) · Wikipedia (de): Berner Münster · Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Untere Altstadt (alle Adressen) · Wikidata: Q688315