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About this place
Nydeggkirche (Nydegg Church) is a Swiss Reformed church in Bern, standing at the eastern edge of the Old Town beside the Nydegg Bridge over the River Aare. This late Gothic sandstone building is one of the oldest churches in the city, set on the hill where Bern's story began.
What is the history of the church?
The church was built between 1341 and 1346 and was originally Catholic. After the Reformation it passed to the Reformed congregation, and it remains an evangelical-reformed parish church today. The site is older still: it was once the location of the Zähringen town castle, Nydegg, which gave the hill its name.
The interior was redesigned in the early 1950s, so the layout you see today is much younger than the Gothic shell. The organ was restored between about 1991 and 1996, and the church occasionally hosts classical concerts.
What else is nearby?
The church sits at the foot of the Nydegg Bridge, built from 1840 to 1844 to plans by engineer Joseph Ferry. When completed, its central arch was the largest natural-stone arch in Europe. From the bridge and the streets around the church you get views over the Aare loop and the lower parts of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, while the steep lane of Nydeggstalden drops toward the river.
How do I get to Nydeggkirche?
The church is at Nydeggbrücke, 3011 Bern, on the eastern end of the Old Town. From the Zytglogge clock tower, follow the main Old Town axis east along Gerechtigkeitsgasse and Junkerngasse to the bridge. The walk from the centre takes around a quarter of an hour.
When can I visit, and is it free?
Admission is free. Regular opening hours are not published in the sources we checked, so confirm on the parish website nydegg.ch or contact the parish office ([email protected], +41 31 352 04 43) before you go. Combine the visit with a stroll through the Old Town and across the Nydegg Bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nydeggkirche still an active church? Yes, it serves the Reformed parish.
When was it built? In the 14th century, between 1341 and 1346.
Do I need a ticket? No, entry is free.
What stood on the site before the church? The Zähringen castle of Nydegg, which gave the hill its name.
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