Politforum Käfigturm Bern

Politforum Käfigturm Bern

Direct democracy in action

Sebastian from Bern

Born and deeply rooted in the picturesque city of Bern, equipped with an insatiable curiosity for culture and culinary delights. Always searching for urban stories and tales - once as a history student, later as a journalist an now as a political advisor. Why Bern - Bern is known as the slowest city in the world, the music capital of Switzerland, it has the best urban swimming river I...
""Politforum Käfigturm" Bern used to be the city prison -- now it's more than a fancy viewpoint. It's an information bureau for the Swiss political system."

On first sight, Bern's Käfigturm (cage tower) is just the less attractive sister of the grand Zytglogge a bit further down the road. But while the famous clock tower is only accessible by guided tours, the cage tower is open for the public and free to enter. Sometimes I come here just to enjoy the view onto the busy cobblestone main street down there in the canyon of medieval houses.

But the cage tower (yes, it was once the city prison) is much more than a fancy viewpoint. It actually is an information bureau for everyone interested in the Swiss political system with regular discussions about current policy issues and sometimes very interesting exhibitions (in German, French and English) shown on the top floor. So if you are interested in figuring out why the Swiss are voting about banning minarets, six weeks of holidays, how many horns a cow is supposed to have and why bicycles should be mentioned in the constitution - you're at the right spot!

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Bern Spotter Sebastian

Born and deeply rooted in the picturesque city of Bern, equipped with an insatiable curiosity for culture and culinary delights. Always searching for urban stories and tales - once as a history student, later as a journalist an now as a political advisor. Why Bern - Bern is known as the slowest city in the world, the music capital of Switzerland, it has the best urban swimming river I know, a giant anarchist culture temple in the middle of the city and – yes – it's a UNESCO World Heritage site. I find that quite impressive for a town of 140,000 people…

About this spot

Marktgasse 67

CHF

free

313102060

Oct 30, 2025

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