Marktgasse (Market Street), Bern

Market Street is one of the oldest and liveliest streets in Bern, running through the heart of the medieval Old Town between the Prison Tower in the west and the Clock Tower in the east. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been the city's principal commercial thoroughfare since the 13th century. First recorded in 1286, the street was originally known as Inner New Town before gradually adopting the name Market Street, which became widely accepted in the early 20th century.

Walking along the broad, cobbled street, visitors will immediately notice the continuous arcades that shelter shops, cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and boutiques. These covered walkways, extending throughout much of the Old Town, are among the longest shopping arcades in Europe and allow pedestrians to explore comfortably in almost any weather. The elegant sandstone buildings, decorated bay windows, and steep tiled roofs preserve much of Bern's medieval character.

Market Street is also renowned for its Renaissance fountains, which once supplied drinking water and served as important gathering places. Among the most notable are the Marksman Fountain, depicting an armed rifleman carrying a banner and sword in honor of the city's marksmen's guild, and the Anna Seiler Fountain, commemorating the founder of Bern's first hospital.

The eastern end of the street is dominated by the famous Clock Tower, whose astronomical clock has become one of Bern's best-known landmarks.