Bern's medieval tower, which was built in the early 17th century on the site of the entrance gate to the inner city, is located at the end of Spitalgasse. Locals call it the "Cell Tower", which is explained simply: from 1405 to 1897, the tower was used as a prison. In official tourist literature it is known as the Prison Tower. Its passage has not been locked for a long time. Moreover, it was widened in the late 19th century to allow cars to pass under the tower without hindrance.
The gate tower, erected in 1256, was part of the inner city walls. When in 1345 the city expanded to such an extent that a third ring of defences was built around it, the tower lost its original function. In 1405 there was a great fire in the city, which destroyed most of the residential buildings. The prison was also damaged. The city authorities decided that there was no better place to keep prisoners in the city than the tower on Spitalgasse. They also decided to use it for surveillance of the neighbourhood. The guard's task was to look out for the glow of fire in the city streets and warn the citizens in time with a trumpet signal.
The old prison tower was demolished in 1640 and rebuilt in a few years. The finishing work took two years. In 1690, the 49 metre high tower made of tufa and sandstone displayed its famous clock with the relief "The Greatness of Bern". The locals were delighted with this expensive innovation, which not every town could boast at that time.
After the closure of the prison, the city archives were housed here, then it was given over to exhibitions and a library. It now houses a museum, where you can learn more about the cultural life of Bern.
