House at Junkerngasse 39

About the building

For a long time Junkerngasse was the favourite residential street of Bern's leading families. According to Paul Hofer it was called Kirchgasse until the 16th century; the name Edle Gasse appears in 1596 and the present name for the first time in 1632. No. 39 stands on the south side, where the plots drop towards the slope above the Aare.

Until the 16th century there were two separate houses here; the old internal fire walls still exist in the front building. Around 1730 to 1740 No. 39 and the neighbouring No. 41 were remodelled together, and Hofer notes that the still usable medieval fabric was kept. As clients for No. 39 he names Albrecht von Diesbach, who died in 1738, or Gabriel May; the architect is unknown. Hofer counts the arcade, with its strong piers, groin vaults and broadly moulded segmental-arched portal, among the best in the street.

On the facade, look closely above the central arcade pier: a pair of channelled pilaster strips hides the place where the fire wall between the two houses used to be. The highlight, however, is the small inner courtyard. Galleries with basket arches are set in front of the fire walls and the courtyard front of the rear building, enclosing the yard in a horseshoe. Pilaster strips, imposts and balustrades give the tight space strong relief without overloading it. Hofer considered the obelisk fountain in the courtyard a later addition.

On 30 January 1997 a fire broke out in the neighbouring No. 41 and damaged large parts of houses 35 to 43. The roof structures of Nos. 37 to 41 burned out completely, and the water used to fight the fire caused heavy damage on the other floors. The house was rebuilt afterwards. It is a cultural property of national importance and part of the Old City of Bern World Heritage Site.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Paul Hofer: Die Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Bern, Bd. II (Die Stadt Bern: Gesellschaftshäuser und Wohnbauten), 1959, S. 117–120, 192–193 · Wikipedia (de): Liste der Kulturgüter in Bern/Innere Stadt (Ost), KGS 9119 · Wikipedia (de): Junkerngasse · Wikidata: Q19362492 · Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Untere Altstadt, alle Adressen (Übersicht, ohne Einzelbeschrieb)