Gerechtigkeitsgasse

The Gerechtigkeitsgasse ("Justice Alley") is one of the principal streets in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. Together with its extension, the ''Kramgasse'', it is the heart of the inner city.Hofer, 74 Hans Gieng's most famous fountain figure, the statue of Lady Justice on the '' Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen'', commands the view of the street's gentle slopes and curves.

The Gerechtigkeitsgasse and its buildings are a heritage site of national significance and part of the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site that encompasses the Old City.

Topography

The Gerechtigkeitsgasse is long. It is the eastern half and the oldest part of the central East-West axis of the city's oldest neighbourhood, the ''Zähringerstadt'', built right after the founding of the city in 1191. It continues to the west as the ''Kramgasse'' after being crossed by the '' Kreuzgasse''. In the west, the Gerechtigkeitsgasse bifurcates as it enters the '' Nydegg'' neighbourhood: the '' Nydeggstalden'' leads to the '' Untertorbrücke'', and the ''Nydeggasse'' to the more recent '' Nydeggbrücke''. Several narrow alleys and passageways connect the Kramgasse to the parallel '' Postgasse'' in the north and the '' Junkerngasse'' in the south.

The Gerechtigkeitsgasse cannot be reached by car without a special permit. It is accessible by foot or bike or by means of the Bernmobil bus line no. 12 that runs through it and stops at either end of the street (''Rathaus'' and ''Nydegg''). Both sides of the street are covered with '' Lauben'', stone arcades that protect pedestrians from inclement weather.

History

The Gerechtigkeitsgasse was the main street of the town at the time of its founding. With its original width of around , reduced to after the construction of the arcades, it also served as the central marketplace of medieval Bern. For this reason, the Gerechtigkeitsgasse and the Kramgasse together were called the ''Märitgasse'' (Swiss German for "Market Alley") until the 16th century. After that time, the markets moved west towards the '' Zytglogge'', and the street came to be called ''by der Gerechtigkeit'' ("near adyJustice"), in reference to the fountain installed in 1543. Only in 1798 was the street officially renamed ''Gerechtigkeitsgasse''. The meat and bread stalls, the tannery and most guilds also moved out of the street between 1450 and 1550 as it gradually became a residential area mainly for the ruling noble families.Hofer, 68 The urban tribunal with its pillory and judge's chair made of stone remained located in the street near the ''Kreuzgasse'' significantly longer.

On the eastern end, the streetscape was altered by the slighting of Nydegg Castle in 1270, the demolition of other fortifications until 1405 and several excavations of the roadbed until 1764 to reduce the street's downward slope. In 2005, the street was thoroughly renovated and its cobblestone pavement replaced. The city ditch (''Stadtbach'') running through the middle of the street since medieval times is now visible again through metal gratings.

Buildings

The architectural history of the Gerechtigkeitsgasse is mostly not recorded until 1600.Hofer, 72 The oldest dated house is no. 60, built in 1531 by Hans Franz Nägeli. Roughly half the buildings bear the imprint of the late 16th century. Renaissance architecture and the early Baroque touched the outside of the buildings only lightly. As in the Kramgasse, two thirds of the houses received new façades until 1780, reshaping most of the eastern and central part of the street in the image of the late Baroque. Unlike other streets, no substantial changes were made to the streetscape since; a project to demolish five houses in 1954 was prevented by exceptionally broad public opposition, receiving international support.

House no. 7, the ''Goldener Adler'' ("Golden Eagle"), is Bern's oldest hostel and tavern. It was first recorded in 1489 as ''Weisses Kreuz''; the building is a 1764 construction by N. Hebler. The eagle head holding the inn sign is one of the chief works of this type in Switzerland.Caviezel et al., 164. No. 40 is Bern's most expansive urban palais; it is exemplary for the insertion of a French '' hôtel'' in the medieval cityscape. It was built in 1743 by Albrecht Stürler for Alexander von Wattenwyl and was the site of the surrender of the Helvetic government to French troops on 18 September 1802. No. 42 is the first certain work of Stürler, who was 28 years old when designing it in 1734 for Niklaus Jenner.

House no. 33 is significant as a principal work of Bernese manierism with one of the best Régence façades and Louis XV interior.Caviezel et al., 166. It was built in 1608 by Andres Widmer and the exterior was reshaped by Türler in 1740. No. 52, built 1730, is considered to be Niklaus Sprüngli's best town house. No. 56, a rather simple 1730 Régence house, is noted for its exceptional door knocker. No. 62 houses the ''Klötzlikeller'' restaurant. Established in 1632, it is the last of originally more than 200 cellar taverns of Bern. No. 79, the ''Gesellschaftshaus zum Distelzwang'', built 1703 by Samuel Jenner, is a principal work of early Baroque architecture in Bern.Caviezel et al., 169.

References

Bibliography

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External links

{{coord, 46.948377, 7.454525, display=title, source:GoogleMaps_type:landmark_region:CH-BE

Streets in Bern
Old City (Bern)