Minster Terrace (Münsterplattform)

What it is

The Münsterplattform is a large, raised terrace on Bern’s southern Old Town edge, directly beside the Bernese Minster. It is not the Minster’s tower platform: this is a public park at street level, built out over the steep Aare slope.

The terrace began as a churchyard. Its foundation stone was laid in 1334, the heavy retaining walls were completed in 1514, and the site served as a cemetery until 1531. It then became a promenade. That history explains its unusual structure: an open green space carried by substantial walls above the lower town.

The view from the balustrade

Head for the southern sandstone balustrade. Below lies the Matte quarter and the Aare; the Kirchenfeld Bridge crosses the valley to the east. On clear days, the view continues to the Alps.

The terrace is planted with mature chestnut trees and set out with lawns and benches. It works best as a short stop between the Minster and the riverside rather than as a destination requiring a fixed itinerary.

Look for:

• The two corner pavilions at the river-facing edge.
• The memorial plaque on the southern balustrade for Theobald Weinzäpfli, who survived a fall from the terrace on horseback in 1654.
• The sharply contrasting levels of Bern: the Minster and Old Town above, the Matte and river far below.

Getting between the Old Town and Matte

Access the terrace from the streets around the Minster, especially Münstergasse. The Minster stands immediately alongside, so the terrace fits naturally into a walk through Bern’s lower Old Town.

For the direct descent to Matte, use the Mattelift, locally known as the Senkeltram. This electric passenger lift has connected the platform with the riverside quarter since 1897. It is a practical shortcut down the slope; return to the upper town on foot if you want to follow the lanes and stairs instead.

Visit practicalities

The Münsterplattform is open continuously, including at night. There is no need to treat it as an attraction with a timed visit: stop for the view, use a bench or lawn, then continue to the Minster or descend to the river.

The open terrace has limited shelter, while the chestnuts provide useful shade in warmer weather. Stay behind the balustrade and do not climb the retaining walls; the drop to the lower streets is substantial.

Why it matters

This is one of the clearest places to read Bern’s geography. The terrace joins the medieval church precinct to the Aare valley, while its retaining walls reveal the engineering needed to extend the Old Town across a steep hillside. In local Bernese dialect it is affectionately called the Pläfe.