Medieval Times

I was in Switzerland few years ago and I stayed in a chalet in the Alps 3000 meters above sea level. It took me a couple days to adjust to the oxygen levels before I could enjoy my stay there. After exploring what the mountain had to offer, I started planning different trips every day to explore this beautiful country.

Not to go into too many details, I was there during the famous Montreux music festival along lake Geneva and enjoyed the sounds and food from all over the world, I explored the old Olympic city of Lausanne and took a ferry across the lake to Evian on the French side which was famous for it's Casino and shops along the small alley way. Of course I went to Geneva and adored all the shopping it had to offer... Honestly, it was watch and chocolate overload. I then went to the village of Montblanc on the French side again and enjoyed it's daily festivities, more shopping, and went up to see the glacier.

It is now the day before departure and I had left it empty to relax and pack. The trip was great so far with many highlights but it was still early, and I had just finished the real Swiss Chalet chicken that I ordered the day before because they had to catch it in the field that day... I was bored. I realized so far this trip everyone spoke French so I looked up the closest city that spoke German for a change and Bern popped up. So I decended the mountain and made my way to this small city.

Upon arrival, I could not believe my eyes. This was a medieval town that had a moat surrounding it and in the center there was a small tower. I explored the town and it definitely had a different vibe to it in relation to all other places that I had visited. It was bustling and people were everywhere. Shops and cafes and restaurants in every nook and crany. I made my way to the tower and there I just stood in awe. The tower had two clocks as you can see in the picture called Zytglogge. The tower was built in the 13th century that served as a guard tower, centre of urban life, and civic memorial. The clocks was added in the 15th century which consisted of a bell on top, time clock, astronomical clock, and musical mechanism. I was enamored with its mix of Burgundian and Baroque style and all the mechanisms moving in harmony and of course the beautiful Chime it created. The astronomical clock was the coolest as it had two separate movements. I was so glad I came to this town before leaving and dare I say that this was my favorite expedition with seeing this historic clock that sits at the center of the town called Bern.