Carnival bear in the Käfigturm: 11.11. at 11.11 am

What happens on 11.11.?

On 11 November at 11.11 am, the carnival association Bärner Fasnacht locks the carnival bear in the Käfigturm. The bear is the heraldic animal of the Bärner Fasnacht. In the tower it symbolically hibernates. This marks the start of the carnival season in Bern.

When and where in 2026?

11 November 2026 is a Wednesday. Traditionally the bear is locked in at 11.11 am in front of the Käfigturm on Bärenplatz, at the top of Marktgasse, a few minutes' walk from the station. The programme and times are on the page of the Bärner Fasnacht.

Why the Käfigturm?

The name gives it away: the Käfigturm (“cage tower”) was a prison until 1897. Today's tower was built from 1641 to 1644; an earlier tower stood here from 1256 as the city's west gate. Later the state archives moved in, and today it houses the Polit-Forum Bern. There is no better place in Bern for a bear that is locked up for a few months.

When is the bear set free?

At the “Bärebefreiig” (bear liberation) on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, again at the Käfigturm. It opens the carnival itself. In 2027 the Bärner Fasnacht runs from 11 to 13 February.

The Bärner Fasnacht in brief

• Carnival in Bern is documented as early as 1416. Today's Bärner Fasnacht has existed since 1982.
• After Basel and Lucerne it is considered the third-largest carnival in Switzerland.
• Around 50 Guggenmusik bands take part.

Right next to it

In front of the Käfigturm stands the Anna-Seiler-Brunnen. If you are in the Old Town anyway: the Zibelemärit is on 23 November, and Bern's real bears also go into their winter rest in November.

Sources: Bärner Fasnacht, “11.11.” and “Termine”; swissinfo.ch / Keystone-SDA, 11 Nov 2025; Wikipedia (German), “Berner Fasnacht”; Wikipedia (German), “Käfigturm”; Blick, “Bärner Fasnacht: Das müssen Sie darüber wissen”; madeinbern.com. Read in October 2026.