Berne Cathedral

Welcome to Berne Cathedral, otherwise known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Vincent. It’s the largest religious building from the late Middle Ages in Switzerland. In the 15th century, Berne was the largest city north of the Alps but still didn’t have its own cathedral. Construction began on this church in 1421, built on the site of a smaller one dating back two centuries earlier. The project took 150 years to complete, with generations of master builders working one after the other to create this stunning example of flamboyant Gothic architecture, designed to let in as much natural light as possible. By 1521, the tower had reached 60 meters, but construction stopped due to unstable foundations. The tower was finally completed in 1893, with a magnificent neo-Gothic addition that now reaches 100.6 meters high. Take a moment to admire the sculpted entrance, the cathedral’s most remarkable feature. There, 294 colorful figurines depict the Last Judgment, offering believers a vivid vision of the afterlife. This scene is the only one that survived the iconoclasm of the Reformation and is now considered one of the most complete collections of Gothic sculpture in Europe. During the Reformation, many Protestant leaders pushed for the destruction of religious images, icons and crucifixes, which they saw as forms of idolatry and superstition. Since 1528, the cathedral has been Protestant. If you step inside, you’ll find the ribbed vault of the choir completed in 1517, stunning stained glass windows, and a grand organ that was rebuilt in 1999. Entry to the cathedral is free, but if you want to climb the bell tower for a panoramic view over the city and out to the mountains, you’ll need a ticket. The church is listed as a Swiss cultural asset of national importance and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.