Switzerland Guide
Bern
Matte
Matte is one of the most appealing districts of the Old Town, For many centuries this was a self-contained district of craftspeople and dockworkers which long retained its own dialect. Gentrification of the neighbourhood in the 1970s brought sweeping social changes. The river is still channelled into an open canal along the main street, and there are plenty of crooked half-timbered houses all around, but a look at wall plaques will turn up more software companies and design partnerships than you could shake a stick at. You'll find a great deal of graffiti down here too, a legacy of the presence of the Wasserwerk, one of Bern's leading dance clubs. During the disastrous floods of 1999 and 2005, Matte spent several weeks underwater: you may still see evidence of high-water marks.
Opening time: Daily
Price: Free
Website: www.matte.ch