The aged stairs in Bern, Switzerland are said to carry an aged legend. Hans Franz Nägeli, the city's former leader, is said to haunt the Fricktreppe in the Old Town, appearing to those who call his name three times.
High above the winding banks of the Aare River, in the heart of Bern's famed Old Town, rises the Fricktreppe, a picturesque covered wooden staircase leading from Münsterplatz down to the riverbank.
Hidden among cobbled streets and steep medieval corridors, the Frick Stairs feels like a place suspended in time. According to some Bern residents, the stairs are haunted by one of the city's most infamous ghosts: the ghost of the city's former leader, Hans Franz Nägeli.
Mayor, warrior, tortured soul
Hans Franz Nägeli was born around 1497 and gained great fame as a military leader and politician. His most famed achievement was the conquest of Vaud in 1536, extending the Bernese territory deeper into French-speaking lands. However, despite his victories and public service, something seems to have followed him after death.
When Nägeli died in 1579, his name was already legendary. However, over the following centuries, whispers began to spread that his spirit had never rested. Locals say that Nägeli, once a man of power and control, is now a restless creature wandering the Fricktreppe, where his soul is said to still be bound to the city he ruled and fought for.
The Haunted Fricktreppe
Where Munsterplatz turns into Herrengasse, at number 1, is the Fricktreppe, a covered wooden staircase connecting the upper city with the Matte district. The stairs with 183 wooden steps date back to the 14th century.
Although Fricktreppe impresses with its wooden roof, centuries-old stairs and atmospheric views of the river below during the day, it takes on a completely different atmosphere at night. The creaking boards, the rustling of the wind in the antique beams, and the eerie silence that reigns below the Aare contribute to a deep sense of unease. Locals report feeling like they are being watched when walking through the neighborhood after murky, and some even claim to have heard steady footsteps above them, echoing for centuries.
As legend has it, the spirit of Nägeli appears to those who have the courage to summon him. According to an aged urban legend passed down from generation to generation among Bernese youth, if at exactly midnight you stand at the foot of the Fricktreppe and call out “Vater Nägeli” three times, the mayor's ghost, shrouded in darkness, will descend the stairs from the top.
The story is about two women who were once in great need and desperately trying to do anything. When they heard it, they called on His name three times, asking for facilitate. Suddenly the wall opened and a elevated, radiant figure emerged. “What do you want?” asked a grumpy voice. Then one of the women gathered all her courage and told the man about their common misfortune. “Go home,” the voice replied. But as the women looked, they saw that the figure became darker and darker until it finally disappeared completely.
When the women returned to their rooms, a radiant lightweight was burning on the table. Next to it was a pile of gold and a gigantic loaf of bread. And although the women took some gold every day, part of the pile still remained.
The ghost of Hans Franz Nägela
This ritual became a rite of passage for the brave inhabitants. Young boys especially are said to try their luck by shouting the ghost's name after the witching hour. Some do it for fun, others to impress their friends – but few are prepared for what might actually happen.
Witnesses claim to have seen a elevated, austere figure in 16th-century clothing at the top of the stairs. Even more terrifying are the stories of those who claim to have felt an concealed hand slap them – slapped by the ghastly mayor himself for mocking his name. Nägeli is said to tolerate only respectful calls; those who mock or tease may have a bruised cheek or a shaken spirit.
Underground treasure
The city's underground passages hide treasure; everyone knows it. But not everyone knows that Father Nägeli can provide the key that leads to this. Near Münzgraben, a passage leads very deep underground, and after wandering along its walls for a while, you notice a diminutive, bluish lightweight in the distance. You approach the lightweight and suddenly a huge, growling dog blocks your path. If you know the password, he will let you through. And if you are allowed to proceed, you will reach a gate through which the light-filled room sends a sea of rays into the murky corridor.
Once you get used to the intense lightweight, you will see three bags on the floor of the crypt. From them you need to take a handful of earth and immediately leave the place. Woe to those who cannot remain hushed or who cannot bring themselves to look back again. In their hands the earth turns to ash. However, whoever leaves the corridor according to the command will hold radiant gold in both hands when leaving.
Other ghosts haunting the stairs and street
The ghost of Hans Franz Nägeli is certainly not the only ghost rumored to haunt the area. Every now and then, at midnight, an elderly man comes down the Frick steps towards the Junkerngasse. Some say he walks on goat legs, others say he doesn't have any at all. On the way, however, he groans and loudly complains: “Put shoes on the feet of every dead person in the grave.”
Perhaps this story has to do with the ghost of a butcher's apprentice who is said to haunt Rathausgate after being cursed.
Others claim to have seen a newborn woman wandering around. They say that she died in childbirth and now she has to look for the baby again and again because no one put shoes on her in the grave.
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The restless ghost of Hans Franz Nägeli: The Fricktreppe Ghost
Hans Franz Nägeli: (c. 1497 – January 9, 1579) was a Swiss politician, military commander and diplomat who was a significant force in Bern for four decades. He was Schultheiß, or chief judge of Bern, from 1540 to 1568.
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The ghost city of Bern – SWI swissinfo.ch
These ghosts haunt the streets and houses of the city
Greeley Daily Tribune from Greeley, Colorado – Newspapers.com™
From Nägeli's father | Bajka Foundation
https://www.maerchenstiftung.ch/maerchendatenbank/11830/schuhe-ins-grab
https://www.maerchenstiftung.ch/maerchendatenbank/11883/der-unterirdische-schatz
Image Source: Pixabay.com
