Photos: Dmitry A. Mottl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Daniel Kraft, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ermell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Dmitry A. Mottl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Daniel Kraft, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ermell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A slow circuit of the river loop around old Bern
Your local guide
Fabienne Zbinden
View profile
Highlights
- The Aare's tight bend from above
- Matte's low riverside houses
- A political history housed in an old tower
- The full loop of Bern's old town
- How the river once defended the city
About this tour
This session traces the full loop the Aare cuts around Bern's old town, from the Nydeggbrücke down into the low quarter of Matte and back up to the Käfigturm gate. You see how the city sits on a narrow spur of land, with the river doing much of the defensive work medieval walls do elsewhere. The change in level between the old town and the river below reads more sharply on camera than most photographs suggest.
Fabienne keeps a steady pace across the bridge before dropping down into Matte, where the streets narrow and the houses sit closer to the water. She climbs back up slowly, giving the change in elevation its due weight, and takes questions at each of the three stops.
This suits anyone who already knows the clock tower and wants the fuller shape of the city. It rewards patience more than a quick highlights reel would.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 7 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Bern before heading out.
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Nydeggbrücke Viewpoint 21 min
From the bridge, the camera turns back toward the old town, its rooftops rising inside the Aare's tight river bend, a view repeated on postcards for generations.
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Matte Quarter Streets 21 min
Down at river level, Fabienne walks past the low craftsmen's houses of Matte, once looked down on quite literally from the old town above.
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Käfigturm Gate Tower 21 min
The old prison tower on Marktgasse now hosts exhibitions on current political questions, a sharp contrast with the medieval stone around it.
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Your questions 14 min
Time to ask anything about Bern: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 6 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Berner Platte and Matte, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Zurich time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 8 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Bern, showing you Nydeggbrücke Viewpoint and Matte Quarter Streets live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet using the link in your booking. I walk the full loop with my phone in hand, from the bridge down to the river and back up.
Times shown in Zurich time (CET)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Tue 10 Nov · 8 seats left From 29,00 €
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