Following the Waters of Bern: The Old Town’s Hydrology Through Time

The city of Bern has been shaped by water for centuries. On this walking tour, you’ll discover how the river Aare has affected the development of the old city, and its landscape and culture throughout history. As you walk along the Aare, you’ll hear about the benefits of hydropower production, the challenges of flood management, and the relevance of the river for transportation. You’ll also see a lot of water, including the Stadtbach stream, many historic water fountains and, of course, the Aare river – each with its own long history.

The tour starts next to Bundeshaus, the federal building of Switzerland, and a historic weather station. From there, you’ll walk through the old city and learn about water management strategies that are part of political discussions. You’ll pass through Matte district, famous for its high flood risk and hydropower generation. While walking along the Aare, you’ll cross the river on four historic bridges and hear about their impact on transportation.

You’ll stroll through the center of the old city, where you’ll come across the Stadtbach stream, which was channelled during the foundation of the city. The tour ends near the fascinating Meret-Oppenheim fountain, a living artwork that represents a garden. It’s a great place to take a rest as well as a central point for further exploration of the old city of Bern.

On this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Enjoy a view of the Aare’s clear blue water while walking along its banks
• Cross the Untertorbrücke, the oldest bridge in Bern, dating back to 1490
• Explore Matte district’s relationship with the Aare, including flood management and industries
• Hear about the city’s history of drinking water and wastewater management
• Understand the effects of river straightening and the concept of Sponge City, which uses permeable surfaces and green spaces to absorb excess rainfall like a natural sponge
• Find out how bears live in the Aare and why they’re featured on the flag of Bern
• Take photos of various historic bridges and the beautiful old city

This tour introduces you to the old city of Bern and is fun for first-time visitors and water enthusiasts. There are also many beautiful locations and lots of cafés and restaurants where you can take a break.

This tour​ was funded by the Swiss Hydrological Commission (CHy).

If you want to learn more about water in Switzerland, you might be interested in these excursions and courses:

• CrowdWater App
• VoiceMap Tour in Zurich
• VoiceMap Tour in Baden
• VoiceMap Tour in Reichenau
• Actionbound Excursion «Water in Zurich» More information on the excursion can be found here.
• Actionbound Excursion “Water in Baden” More information on the excursion can be found here
• Actionbound Bike excursion «Jura Water Correction»
• Online course (MOOC) «Water in Switzerland»
• Online course (MOOC) «CrowdWater»

Credits: Meret Vogler, Franziska Clerc-Schwarzenbach, Jan Seibert, and Ilja van Meerveld