Said to be dissatisfied with the fate of the city he once led, the ghost of Prince Berchtold V of Zähringen haunts the aged town of Bern, around the Nydegg Church, where his monument is located.
At the eastern edge of Bern's historic Old Town, where the cobblestones whisper with age and the fog from the Aare River creeps into the alleys at dusk, stands the Nydegg Church, a place of prayer, peace and, if rumors are to be believed, paranormal mystery.
Built on the ruins of the once mighty Nydegg Castle, which belonged to Bern's founder, Prince Berchtold V of Zähringen, the church and the streets surrounding it are broad with centuries of buried secrets and the shadows of those who refuse to rest.
A ghostly legacy of power and loss
Prince Berchtold V of Zähringen, who ruled from 1186 until his death in 1218, was the last of his family. With him, his dynasty, which shaped the early outline of Bern, disappeared, and with it came a breakdown in the balance of power. After Berchtold's death, Nydegg Castle was finally demolished to prevent rival claims. Where the fortress had once stood, the Nydegg Church was built in its place, which seemed to silence the stones, but not the souls once bound to them.
Today, the Zähringer monument stands quietly in Nydegghöfli, next to the Nydegg church, in honor of the man who once laid the first stones in Bern. However, local tradition has it that the prince is not content to remain a statue. On chilly nights, when the air becomes thinner and the fog presses against the aged facades, Berchtold V steps down from his pedestal. Dressed in medieval costumes, his ghost solemnly walks the Kreuzgasse below, a narrow street connecting Kramgasse with the cathedral and town hall. There, he is seen observing the city he founded with a grim, disapproving expression, dissatisfied with the way things are turning out.
Under the church, under the streets
The hauntings around this particular church are not narrow to the church of Berchtold V. beneath the church of Nydegg – the tunnels that once connected the castle and various monastic buildings still wind beneath the city. Local historian Erismann notes that strange noises can sometimes be heard from these historic corridors, such as whispers, the clanking of armor, and footsteps when no one is present.
These underground paths, long closed to the public, are believed to hold memories too troubled to erase.
Dancing Beguines
Another ghost story from the area is the haunting of Beguine on Christmas Day. During the Christmas season, those with sight can see seven petite lights dancing in the gently flowing waters of the Aare River. They rise and fall, jumping around each other, trying to catch each other, and then dance in a circle. This game continues for some time until midnight strikes in the clock tower of Nydegg Church. A shiver runs through the petite flames. Then a noisy, painful sigh. The second hit – and the lights went out.
These are Beguines, according to popular belief, who were placed at a juvenile age against their will in the monastery in Klösterlistutz. It is not certain, however, whether these were really Beguines, because Beguines were unofficial and the rule was that you could leave them whenever you wanted. But over the years, lots of women were sent to monasteries. During the holy season, they have a few moments to atone for their stolen youth. And they do it with their dance above the roaring waves in the moonlight.
So if you find yourself near Nydegg Church after obscure, walk quietly. And if you see a statuesque figure in noble clothing watching you from a foggy alley, do not look him in the eye. The prince sees a lot. And he remembers everything.
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Prince Berchtold V of Zähringen haunting the Old Town of Bern
Said to be dissatisfied with the fate of the city he once led, the ghost of Prince Berchtold V of Zähringen haunts the aged town of Bern, around the Nydegg Church, where his monument is located.
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The ghost city of Bern – SWI swissinfo.ch
https://www.maerchenstiftung.ch/maerchendatenbank/11833/tanzende-beginen
Image Source: Pixabay.com
