Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Bern (Peter-und-Paul-Kirche) stands at Rathausgasse 2, right beside the Town Hall in the Old Town. It is the parish church of Bern's Christian Catholic community and the cathedral of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, listed as a cultural property of national significance.

Why was a Catholic church built in Bern in the 19th century?

After the Reformation, Bern's Catholics had no church of their own for generations. They heard Mass in the choir of the Minster until 1803, then in the French Church on Zeughausgasse from 1804. Work on a new church began in 1858 on the site of the former St. Johannsen granary, which itself stood over the ruins of a mint destroyed by fire in 1787. It was the first Catholic church built in the city since the Reformation.

The designers were H. Marchal and Pierre-Joseph Edmond Deperthes, with Emmanuel Müller supervising construction. The first Mass took place on 13 November 1864.

How did it become a Christian Catholic cathedral?

After the First Vatican Council, a group of Swiss Catholics rejected the new dogmas and formed the Christian Catholic (Old Catholic) Church. In 1875 the building became the parish church of Bern's Old Catholic congregation. Today it also serves as the seat of the church's bishop in Switzerland.

What will you see?

The architecture is Romanesque in form with the influence of French Gothic cathedrals, a noticeable contrast to the plainer Protestant churches that dominate Bern. The bell tower and south façade were renovated in 1965-67, with further restoration since. Seen from the street, the church fits neatly into the Old Town and makes an easy stop on a walk past the Town Hall.

How do you get there?

The church is in Bern's pedestrian-friendly Old Town on Rathausgasse, a few steps from the Town Hall and a walk from the main railway station. There is no reason to bring a car.

When should you visit?

It is a working church, so check opening hours and service times on the parish website, christkath-bern.ch. Keep quiet during services and avoid photographing the interior while one is on.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a Roman Catholic cathedral? No. It belongs to the Christian Catholic (Old Catholic) Church of Switzerland, although it was originally built as a Catholic church.

When was it built? Construction started in 1858 and the first Mass was held on 13 November 1864.

Is this the same as Bern Minster? No. The Minster is a late Gothic Protestant cathedral; St. Peter and Paul is a separate, much younger church by the Town Hall.

Where can I find opening hours? On the parish website, christkath-bern.ch.