Stiftsgebäude on Münsterplatz

About the building

Standing on Münsterplatz, you see a long Baroque building to the south that closes off the square on that side. In its pediment is the coat of arms of Bern in a rocaille cartouche, the shell-like curving ornament typical of the late Baroque. The sculptural decoration of the facade is by the sculptor Johann Friedrich Funk.

The name recalls its predecessors. Even before 1256 the Teutonic Order had a first house here; it disappeared when the Minster was built after 1421. A second house of the order was built in 1427–1435. In 1485 it was turned into a secular college of canons, a Chorherrenstift, and the building takes its name from this foundation.

The present building was planned by Albrecht Stürler. According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, Stürler, born in Bern in 1705, was one of the city's first architects with an academic understanding of architecture, and he mostly worked anonymously. The Stiftsgebäude is his only securely attributed work; extensive records of it from 1745 to 1748 survive. Around two dozen further buildings are attributed to him, among them the Erlacherhof. Stürler died as early as 1748. According to Wikipedia, the Stiftsgebäude was built from 1745 to 1755 under the direction of Samuel Lutz and Ludwig Emanuel Zehender.

Two wings adjoin the main building. The eastern one was built in 1747 on the site of the Matte steps and received an extra storey in 1895. The western one, the so-called Provisorhaus, was completed under Niklaus Hebler by 1755.

According to Wikipedia, the building now houses the cantonal Department of Economic Affairs, Energy and the Environment; the Historical Dictionary named the Department of Economic Affairs for the early 21st century. The building is a cultural property of national significance.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Wikipedia (de): Stiftsgebäude · Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz: Albrecht Stürler · Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Untere Altstadt, alle Adressen (Liste ohne Einzelbeschreibung) · Wikidata: Q2348735