Aarbergergasse
Encyclopedia
The Aarbergergasse is one of the streets in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland
. It was originally the most important of the five streets that were part of the Äussere Neustadt
, which was the section outside the city walls.
One fountain, the Ryfflibrunnen on the Aarbergergasse is listed on the Swiss inventory of heritage site of national significance
and it is part of the UNESCO
Cultural World Heritage Site
that encompasses the Old City.
. Originally the street ran from the Golatenmatt tower, which was part of the outer city wall, to the Waisenhausplatz
. The lane is divided into two different sections, one running west from Sternengässchen to the western end and the other running east from Sternengässchen to Waisenhausplatz. The western section is narrow, curved and lined with arcades
. The houses were built with no central plan or unifying style. The eastern section is wider and straight with arcades only on the Schattseite (shadow side or southern side of the road).
In the night of 14/15 July 1575, a large fire broke out in the area. A total of 43 houses or other buildings were destroyed on Aarbergergasse, Waisenhausplatz and Neuengasse
. The city quickly rebuilt 32 houses, paying for the construction from the city treasury. The original wooden buildings were replaced with sandstone
walled houses. This was last major reconstruction project of the Old City of Bern.
In the 17th-20th Centuries, all the buildings, except for Aarbergergasse 25, were enlarged with additional stories
. Nearly all the buildings changed the style of windows over these centuries. However, most of the rest of the architectural elements have remained unchanged.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It was originally the most important of the five streets that were part of the Äussere Neustadt
Aussere Neustadt
Aussere Neustadt can refer to:* Äußere Neustadt, Dresden* Äussere Neustadt...
, which was the section outside the city walls.
One fountain, the Ryfflibrunnen on the Aarbergergasse is listed on the Swiss inventory of heritage site of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
and it is part of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Cultural World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
that encompasses the Old City.
Topography
Aarbergergasse was originally one of the most important streets in the unwalled Äussere NeustadtÄussere Neustadt (Bern)
The Äussere Neustadt is a historic section in the Old City of Bern in Bern, Switzerland.For almost a century the Käfigturm remained the western boundary of Bern. However, as the city grew, people began settling outside the city walls. In 1344 the city started to build a third wall to protect the...
. Originally the street ran from the Golatenmatt tower, which was part of the outer city wall, to the Waisenhausplatz
Waisenhausplatz
The Waisenhausplatz is a plaza in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It is on the edge of the Innere Neustadt which was built during the second expansion from 1255 to 1260, though the plaza wasn't built until later. It is on the north of the peninsula, and...
. The lane is divided into two different sections, one running west from Sternengässchen to the western end and the other running east from Sternengässchen to Waisenhausplatz. The western section is narrow, curved and lined with arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
. The houses were built with no central plan or unifying style. The eastern section is wider and straight with arcades only on the Schattseite (shadow side or southern side of the road).
History
The region west of the Frauentor (the northern tower of the 2nd city wall) was known as golatunmattun as early as 1279. So, as the city expanded outside the Käfigturm wall into the Äussere Neustadt, the northern-most road (which would become Aarbergergasse) was first known as turn an colatten matten and then later shortened to Golatenmattgasse. The main roads to the north and northwest passed through this road because it led to the northern-most entrance into the city. When the 3rd city wall was built in 1344-46, the Golatenmatt gate was built at the end of Aarbergergasse. The name was officially changed in 1798, but wasn't adopted by the locals until the mid-19th Century.In the night of 14/15 July 1575, a large fire broke out in the area. A total of 43 houses or other buildings were destroyed on Aarbergergasse, Waisenhausplatz and Neuengasse
Neuengasse
The Neuengasse is one of the streets in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It is part of the Äussere Neustadt which was built during the third expansion of the city in 1344 to 1346. It runs from Waisenhausplatz in the east toward the main train station...
. The city quickly rebuilt 32 houses, paying for the construction from the city treasury. The original wooden buildings were replaced with sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
walled houses. This was last major reconstruction project of the Old City of Bern.
In the 17th-20th Centuries, all the buildings, except for Aarbergergasse 25, were enlarged with additional stories
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
. Nearly all the buildings changed the style of windows over these centuries. However, most of the rest of the architectural elements have remained unchanged.