Kornhausplatz
Encyclopedia
The Kornhausplatz is a plaza in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland
. It is on the edge of the Zähringerstadt
which was built during the founding of the city in 1191, though the plaza wasn't built until later. It is located near the Kornhausbrücke (Kornhaus bridge) and the Zytglogge
clock tower. It is part of the UNESCO
Cultural World Heritage Site
that encompasses the Old City.
(Bernese German
for Child Eater Fountain) was built by Hans Gieng in place of a wooden fountain on the Platz. Originally it was known as Platzbrunnen (Place Fountain), though the current name was used first in 1666.
In 1711-1715 the Kornhaus (German
for granary) was built on the western side of the Platz. Following construction of the Kornhaus, the Platz was known as Kornhausplatz or Kornmarkt (Grain market).
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 is on the edge of the Zähringerstadt
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 after the founder, Duke Berthold V of Zähringen...
which was built during the founding of the city in 1191, though the plaza wasn't built until later. It is located near the Kornhausbrücke (Kornhaus bridge) and the Zytglogge
Zytglogge
The Zytglogge tower is a landmark medieval tower in Bern, Switzerland. Built in the early 13th century, it has served the city as guard tower, prison, clock tower, centre of urban life and civic memorial....
clock tower. 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.
History
Kornhausplatz was originally the ditch around the first city wall. Following the Great Fire of 1405 the ditch (known as the Steininbrügg-Graben) was filled in to form a plaza. For about 3 centuries, it was known as Platz (literally: The Plaza or The Place). In 1545/46 the KindlifresserbrunnenKindlifresserbrunnen
The Kindlifresserbrunnen is a fountain at the Kornhausplatz in Bern, Switzerland. It is one of the Old City of Bern's fountains from the 16th century....
(Bernese German
Bernese German
Bernese German is the dialect of High Alemannic German spoken in the Swiss plateau part of the canton of Bern and in some neighbouring regions.- Varieties :There is a lot of regional variation within Bernese German dialects...
for Child Eater Fountain) was built by Hans Gieng in place of a wooden fountain on the Platz. Originally it was known as Platzbrunnen (Place Fountain), though the current name was used first in 1666.
In 1711-1715 the Kornhaus (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for granary) was built on the western side of the Platz. Following construction of the Kornhaus, the Platz was known as Kornhausplatz or Kornmarkt (Grain market).