When it was built around 1218–1220, the Zytglogge served as the gate tower of Bern's western fortifications. At that time, the Zytglogge was only 52 ft. in height. When the rapid growth of the city and the further expansion of the fortifications (up to the Käfigturm) relegated the tower to second-line status at around 1270–1275, it was heightened by 23 ft. to overlook the surrounding houses. In 1344, it was converted to a women’s prison for those who were engaging in “promiscuous acts” with religious clergy. Sixty years later in 1405, a fire ravaged the town, which caused significant damage to the tower, resulting in extremely slow repairs that were not completed until the last restoration in 1983.
In the late 15th century, the Zytglogge and the other Bernese gate towers were extended and decorated after the Burgundian Romantic fashion. The Zytglogge received a new lantern (including the metal bellman visible today), four decorative corner towerlets, heraldic decorations and its stair tower. The astronomical clock was extended to its current state. In 1527–1530, the clockwork was completely rebuilt by Kaspar Brunner, and the gateway was overarched to provide a secure foundation for the heavy machinery. Since then, it’s had centuries of repairs.
When the Clock Chimes
When the great bell rings out every full hour, struck by a large clockwork-operated hammer, passers-by see a gilded figure in full harness moving its arm to strike it. The larger-than-life figure of bearded Chronos, the Greek personification of time, is traditionally nicknamed Hans von Thann by the Bernese. The wooden bell-striker, which has been replaced several times, has been a fixture of the Zytglogge since the renewal of the astronomical clock in 1530, whose clockwork also controls the figure's motions. The bell-striker has been gilded, just like the bells, since 1770.
Below the hour bell, hangs the smaller quarter-hour bell, also rung by a clockwork hammer. It was cast in 1887 to replace the cracked 1486 original.
Astronomical Clock
The dial of the Zytglogge's astronomical clock is built in the form of an astrolabe. It is backed by a stereographically projected planisphere divided into three zones: the black night sky, the deep blue zone of dawn, and the light blue day sky. The skies are crisscrossed with the golden lines of the horizon, dawn, the tropics, and the temporal hours, which divide the time of daylight into twelve hours whose length varies with the time of year.
Around the planisphere moves the rete, a web-like metal cutout representing the zodiac, which also features a Julian calendar dial. Above the rete, a display indicates the day of the week. Because leap days are not supported by the clockwork, the calendar hand has to be reset manually each leap year on February 29th. A moon dial circles the inner ring of the zodiac, displaying the moon phase. The principal hand of the clock indicates the time of day on the outer ring of 24 golden Roman numerals, which run twice from I to XII. It features two suns, the smaller one indicating the date on the rete's calendar dial. The larger one circles the zodiac at one revolution per year and also rotates across the planisphere once per day. Its crossing of the horizon and dawn lines twice per day allows the timing of sunrise, dawn, dusk and sunset.
The painted frieze above the astronomical clock shows five deities from classical antiquity, each representing both a day of the week and a planet in their order according to Ptolemaic cosmology. From left to right, they are: Saturn with sickle and club for Saturday, Jupiter with thunderbolts for Thursday, Mars with sword and shield for Tuesday, Venus with Cupid for Friday and Mercury with staff and bag for Wednesday.
NOTE: Stand in front of the clock 10 minutes before the hour as the show begins in phases. You’ll hear the rooster crow 10 minutes before and again around the 7 minute mark, which is also when the carousel starts to spin. When it reaches the top of the hour, you will hear the bells chime. The show is complete when the rooster crows again.
For more information on Bern or to plan your own trip: www.inspiruption.com/the-travel-lounge/bern
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