Fountains and Statues Walking Tour, Bern

Fountains and Statues Walking Tour (Self Guided), Bern

With over 100 public fountains in the Old Town alone, Bern has a well-deserved reputation as the "City of Fountains". During medieval times, local life revolved around fountains as they provided water for residents and served as locations for news exchange and social gatherings.

Throughout history, Bernese residents have cherished their fountains and decorated them with elaborate sculptures. The latter often included Biblical characters, historical figures, and folklore heroes, often brightly painted and recounting stories of the city. Some of these statues are over four-and-a-half-centuries old.

We start our exploration of local fountains with the Fountain of Justice (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen), featuring a blindfolded Lady Justice with a sword and scales, symbolizing the city's commitment to fairness.

Next in line is the Banner Carrier Fountain (Vennerbrunnen) celebrating the city's banner bearers and depicting a knight holding the Bernese flag. Nearby, Lenbrunnen is the oldest preserved spring monument in Bern.

The Mosesbrunnen showcases Moses with the Ten Commandments, symbolizing the city's adherence to moral values. Samson Fountain (or Simsonbrunnen), in turn, depicts Samson slaying a lion, symbolizing strength and heroism.

The Zahringen Fountain (Zahringerbrunnen) honors the city's founder, Duke Berthold V of Zahringen. The Child Eater Fountain (or Kindlifresserbrunnen), further ahead, is a rather unusual one, with an ogre eating children, possibly symbolizing the threat of child mortality in the past.

The Marksman Fountain (Schützenbrunnen) displays a marksman with a crossbow, commemorating the city's medieval archers. The Anna Seiler Fountain (Anna-Seiler-Brunnen) honors Anna Seiler, a legendary Bernese figure.

Lastly, the Bagpiper Fountain (Pfeiferbrunnen) showcases a bagpiper and a jester, representing the city's love for music and entertainment.

These fountains and statues are not just static pieces of art but living symbols of the city's values and traditions. If you ever have the chance to visit Bern, make sure to explore these locations to gain a deeper appreciation of the city's heritage. Put on your walking shoes and take a stroll through Bern's charming streets to let these sculptures tell you their stories. Quite interesting!

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Krol:k.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Bern

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Fountains and Statues Walking Tour
Guide Location: Switzerland » Bern (See other walking tours in Bern)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Bern?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Bern Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Bern?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Bern, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Bern

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bern is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

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