The Postgasse is one of the streets in the

Old City of Bern The Old City (german: Altstadt) is the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. Built on a narrow hill bordered on three sides by the river Aare, its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since its construction during the twelfth ...

, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It is part of the

Zähringerstadt The Zähringerstadt is a historic section in the Old City of Bern in Bern, Switzerland. The first expansion of Bern occurred as the city was founded in 1191. This central and oldest neighbourhood was known as the ''Zähringerstadt'' ( Zähri ...

which was built during the foundation of the city in 1191. It runs from

Nydeggstalden The Nydeggstalden is one of the streets in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It is part of the Nydegg which was part of the medieval industrial section of Bern. It is a semi-circular road running from Ger ...

near the

Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...

river in the east to the transverse ''Kreuzgasse'', where the name changes to Rathausgasse. It is part of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Cultural

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

that encompasses the Old City.

History

Starting in 1300, the street that would become Rathausgasse and Postgasse was known as ''Hormansgasse'' or ''Hormatsgasse''. The Horman family, the origin of the name, lived in Bern from 1224-1326. Since 1619 the upper section (now Rathausgasse) was known as ''Metzgergasse'' (Butcher's Lane), while the lower section was first called Postgasse in 1798. In 1675, in the house at Nr. 64/66, the ''Fischer'sche Post'' was first built which was the origin of the name in the following century. However, while the name was official in 1798, it wasn't until about 1870 that it became common. In the meantime, the Post moved from Postgasse in 1832.

Sights

The ''Fischer‘sche Posthäuser'' at Postgasse 64/66 is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The ''Antonierkirche'', a hospital-church of the

Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony The Hospital Brothers of Saint Anthony, Order of Saint Anthony or Canons Regular of Saint Anthony of Vienne (''Canonici Regulares Sancti Antonii'', or CRSAnt), also Antonines or Antonites, were a Roman Catholic congregation founded in c. 1095, wi ...

was started in 1494 on the site of a chapel from 1444. The church was finished in 1505.Church of St. Anthony website
accessed 29 January 2010

References

{{coord, 46, 56, 56.46, N, 7, 27, 19.76, E, region:CH, display=title Streets in Bern Odonyms referring to a building Old City (Bern) Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Bern