Münstergasse

The Münstergasse is one of the streets in the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It is part of the Zähringerstadt which was built during the foundation of the old city in 1191. However, until 1967 it was parts of several other streets. It runs along the Cathedral and it is part of the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site that encompasses the Old City.

History

On 1 November 1967 the Münstergasse was created from several other streets. Portions of Kesslergasse (Nr. 34-78 and 31-61), the northern section of Münsterplatz (Nr. 26-32) and the Kirchgasse (Nr. 2-24) were merged into Münstergasse.

Kesslergasse was first mentioned in 1576 as the new name of the western portion of Kirchgasse. The western most section, between Finstergässchen and Hotelgasse, was known as Vor den Barfüssern around 1600 and in the 19th Century was known as Bei der Ankenwaag or Ankenlaube or Salzlaube. Kesslergasse was the fur processing marketplace in the 15th Century. In 1514 it became the butter market and in 1778 it became the butchers' market.