ZÄHRINGER CITIES
The City of Bern is a pedestrian-friendly town. Its many arcades enable visitors & shoppers to easily explore the city regardless of weather conditions and to shop at hearts content. If you pickup a tourist brochure or meet a Bernese, you’ll be told that the unique layout of the streets dates back to the 13th Century and that Bern is a Zähringer City. They might also point out that Murten, or Morat in French, as well as Rheinfelden & Burgdorf belong to that same group. If you are a history buff, that’s fascinating. If you are a tourist, it gives you more towns and neat places to visit.
The Zähringers were a feudal dynasty who along with others such as the Savoy, Kyburg & Habsburg families founded new cities to provide secure stopping places to defend their territories and a source of revenue. Placement of these towns was strategic. The sites could easily be defended such as the City of Bern located on the loop of the Aare River. The typical layout of the Zähringer cities had three long streets that were crossed by narrow lanes. The cities served as economic & administrative centers and outposts for further dynastic expansion.
Rheinfelden is the oldest of the Zähringer cities in Switzerland. It has had a tumultuous history. In 1130 the Zähringer family conferred it city rights. Upon their death it became a free imperial city and in 1330 it was mortgaged to the Habsburgs remaining an Austrian city for almost 500 years. It wasn’t until 1803 that Rheinfelden joined the Canton of Aargau. It is a lovely city with an attractive car-free town center. The old town is a great place to stroll, shop, and admire the beautiful frescoed façades while exploring its side streets. The city is the home of the Feldschlösschen Brewery, the largest in Switzerland. However, the city’s claim to fame came in 1844 with the discovery of rich salt deposits. The brine was used for healing purposes making it a world-famous spa
The bilingual City of Murten was founded by the Dukes of Zähringen in 1157. It has the typical city layout you’ll see in Bern. With its shady arcades, cobblestone streets, majestic gate, and fountains you get the déjà vu feeling of Switzerland’s capital. One of Murten’s unique features are the well-preserved walkable ramparts which ring the old town & the imposing castle from where you can overlook the city & Murten Lake. A traditional thing to do in summer is to stroll along the promenades and stop off for a dish of Egli fillets, a glass or two of the local white wine, topping the meal off with a delicious fruit tart loaded with freshly whipped cream. For history buffs, visit the small Murten Museum for a look at the history of the region going back to the ancient lake dwellers.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above
The City of Bern is a pedestrian-friendly town. Its many arcades enable visitors & shoppers to easily explore the city regardless of weather conditions and to shop at hearts content. If you pickup a tourist brochure or meet a Bernese, you’ll be told that the unique layout of the streets dates back to the 13th Century and that Bern is a Zähringer City. They might also point out that Murten, or Morat in French, as well as Rheinfelden & Burgdorf belong to that same group. If you are a history buff, that’s fascinating. If you are a tourist, it gives you more towns and neat places to visit.
The Zähringers were a feudal dynasty who along with others such as the Savoy, Kyburg & Habsburg families founded new cities to provide secure stopping places to defend their territories and a source of revenue. Placement of these towns was strategic. The sites could easily be defended such as the City of Bern located on the loop of the Aare River. The typical layout of the Zähringer cities had three long streets that were crossed by narrow lanes. The cities served as economic & administrative centers and outposts for further dynastic expansion.
Rheinfelden is the oldest of the Zähringer cities in Switzerland. It has had a tumultuous history. In 1130 the Zähringer family conferred it city rights. Upon their death it became a free imperial city and in 1330 it was mortgaged to the Habsburgs remaining an Austrian city for almost 500 years. It wasn’t until 1803 that Rheinfelden joined the Canton of Aargau. It is a lovely city with an attractive car-free town center. The old town is a great place to stroll, shop, and admire the beautiful frescoed façades while exploring its side streets. The city is the home of the Feldschlösschen Brewery, the largest in Switzerland. However, the city’s claim to fame came in 1844 with the discovery of rich salt deposits. The brine was used for healing purposes making it a world-famous spa
The bilingual City of Murten was founded by the Dukes of Zähringen in 1157. It has the typical city layout you’ll see in Bern. With its shady arcades, cobblestone streets, majestic gate, and fountains you get the déjà vu feeling of Switzerland’s capital. One of Murten’s unique features are the well-preserved walkable ramparts which ring the old town & the imposing castle from where you can overlook the city & Murten Lake. A traditional thing to do in summer is to stroll along the promenades and stop off for a dish of Egli fillets, a glass or two of the local white wine, topping the meal off with a delicious fruit tart loaded with freshly whipped cream. For history buffs, visit the small Murten Museum for a look at the history of the region going back to the ancient lake dwellers.
Checkout the videos & web sites by clicking on the highlighted links above
