The Cellars of Bern, Switzerland
The Old Town of Bern, the capital of Switzerland, was first settled on the peninsular land surrounded by the Aare river in the 12th century, and since then has been a city of many firsts. From one of the first cities to have plumbing, to rebuilding the entire city with sandstone in 1405 to prevent further fires from destroying the traditional wooden buildings, Bern has used ingenuity to provide its citizens with little luxuries. Bern placed an emphasis on design to create some of the earliest European “life hacks,” such as the city’s six kilometers of arcades so inhabitants can avoid walking in the rain.
Another contribution: cellars for every townhome in the Old Town. This meant that every Bernese city dweller had their own space to store their own food and wine during the winter months. Even today, the city’s design has withstood the test of time and has been transformed for modern culture. The cellars are still one of the best ways to see and experience the city as a glimpse into the past while enjoying the tradition of the cellar or something entirely new and unique. These eight former cellars are among the best to visit while traveling in Bern, though wandering and exploring will surely provide its own delightful surprises.
Kornhauskeller is a frescoed bar and Swiss restaurant in a former cellar with a vaulted ceiling. Though the café is at street level, visitors descend into the large basement to find the more elegant dining room. Naturally, the restaurant and vinoteca includes a massive menu of wines—more than 500 bottles.
This small record shop is something straight out of High Fidelity. The subterranean store features nothing but albums hand-selected by the owner, Serge Berthoud. This is definitely a music store worth whiling away an hour or two.
CraftGallery is a microbrew haven in a vaulted cellar that once held grain in the Middle Ages. Stop by to order a flight, but check the calendar to attend a Brewer’s Eve to meet the brewers themselves. It’s the perfect time to geek out over craft beer.