Town Halls and Public Buildings to visit German-Speaking Switzerland

The Federal Palace building was completed in 1902 and is the seat of the Swiss government (Federal Council) and parliament (National Council and Council of States). Under the central dome and in the two council chambers, numerous symbolic representations of Swiss history are depicted. The square in front, with its 26 fountains symbolising the cantons, was opened in 2004 and is THE meeting place for the people of Bern. The National Bank's gold lies beneath your feet.

Discover Basel's town hall, emblem of government and parliament. Its charm lies in its red façade, imposing tower and polychrome paintings. Don't miss the Council Chamber, the inner courtyard, the romantic arcades and the belfry with its panoramic views. Built after an earthquake, the Town Hall symbolizes union with the Confederation. The battlements bear the coats of arms of the cantons. In the ^17th century, Hans Bock decorated the façade with trompe-l'oeil. In the ^20th century, a wing on the left and a belfry on the right enhanced its grandeur.

The town hall is worth a visit above all for its magnificent colonnaded and rib-vaulted courtyard. It was built in 1465 in the late Gothic style after the terrible fire that devastated the city of Chur in 1464. Before that, there were three different parts of the building and it was decided to unify the building during the reconstruction. It has some beautiful rooms from the Renaissance period, notably the Ratssaal or Council Chamber (1494), decorated with carved medallions on the ceiling. One of the most unusual objects is the tower stove in the Great Council Chamber.

Also known as the Oberes Rathuas, this is the seat of the Government of Canton Aargau.

The Schwyz town hall was built between 1642 and 1646 and its façade was richly decorated by Ferdinand Wagner to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1891. The fresco depicts the famous Battle of Morgarten, which took place in 1315 between the Swiss Confederation and the soldiers of Duke Leopold I of Austria, Lord of Habsburg. The Swiss victory established the Brunnen Pact, an agreement between the Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. Inside, you can admire the rich woodwork.