The Old City of Bern is the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland whose medieval center occupies a peninsula in the Aare River.
Bern was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen. The river loop provided a naturally defensible location, while the expanding settlement developed a distinctive medieval street plan. Much of the historic center is characterized by arcaded streets, known locally as Lauben, which provide covered pedestrian routes and commercial space.
The old town contains major landmarks including the Zytglogge clock tower, the Federal Palace nearby, and Bern Minster, Switzerland’s largest ecclesiastical building. The city’s sandstone buildings and long arcades give the center a unified appearance, although it was rebuilt and modified after fires and over later centuries.
Bern became the federal city of Switzerland in 1848, but the UNESCO listing focuses on the historic old town and its architectural and urban character. UNESCO inscribed the Old City of Bern in 1983, recognizing its exceptionally preserved medieval structure.