City Hall

Next to the church, you’ll spot the striking facade of Berne’s City Hall. If the Berne flag is flying from the rooftop, it means the politicians are in session. This historic building, often called the little brother of the Federal Palace, is where the seven members of the cantonal council meet every week. Built in the 15th century in flamboyant Gothic style, it was originally designed to host foreign delegations back when Berne became the political hub of the Mittelland, a central region of Switzerland that includes the cantons of Berne, Fribourg, Jura, Neuchâtel and Solothurn. Mittelland means “Middle Country” in German and refers to the Swiss plateau. Over the centuries, the building has served many roles. It housed the state archives, the treasury, the mint, and even the official printing press. The beautiful sculpted staircase at the front is actually where Winston Churchill gave a speech during his visit to Berne in 1946.