The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-01-17
WONDERFUL cHURCHE S IN
1ERNE-PAlNTlNGs AND ScUlP-
TURE OF PRICELESS VALUE
STORY OF TWO SANITY BRIT
ONS, BEATUS AND JUSTUS-
CONVERSION OF THE NATIVES
-GRoTToEs AND RELICS OF ST.
BEATUS.
written for the Catholic Bulletin by
Marie Widmer.)
(Concluded.)
Berne.

Berne, the capital of Switzerland,
shares with Fribourg the honor of
possessing the most commanding sit
uation of all the larger cities of Swift
zerland, and the same as Fribourg, 1t
is also a foundation Of the mobiles of
Zahringen, dating from 1871.
The old part of the city, which is
world famous for it's wonderfully pre-
served fountains, gates and arcades,
still bears a resemblance to a mediae-
val citadel, rising defiantly above the
broad river bed and the verdant coun-
try around. Here the houses rise tier
on tier to crown the sandstone
heights; there steep banks glisten
with velvet turf, and little stray gar
dens, full of fragrant, old-fashioned
flowers, throw their color against the
gray walls. Bold bridges Of ancient
and modern construction are cleverly
thrown across the deep furrow formed
by the river bed, which in the feudal
days of the Middle Ages proved a nat
ural fertilization OF great value.
St. Vincent Cathedral.
In whatever direction one may look,
the tower of the Cathedral Of st. Vim
cent never fails to strike the eye. The
ediice was commenced in 1421 by
Matthias Ensinger, completed in 1898,
and restored in 1850. The exterior is
in florid Gothic style, richly decorat-
ed. The chief entrance has three
doors, the central one of which is
closed by an iron grill decorated with
the coats-of-arms Of the leading old
Bernese families. The western door
is ornamented with fine sculptures,
representing the Last Judgment,
Christ and the Apostles, the Wise and
Foolish Virgins. and the Prophets.
The north entrance is known as the
Schultheiss, Mayors portal.
The interior Of the church, which is
also noted for it's great organ, is sim
pie, but very impressive. Some Of the
huge stained choir windows are orig.
inals, dating back to 1440; the choir
stalls are adorned on one side with
Christ and the Apostles, on the other
Moses and the Prophets. A monu'
ment with the armorial bearings of
Berchtold V. of Zahringen, the foun'
der Of Berne, and one of Frederick
Won Steiger, the last magistrate of the
city's old regime, are in the right and
left aisle, respectively. In, front OF
Tho 1o+fo~ Sc ~, L,,,to,,, I,, ont IN NOV
BILE.
The Prediser.
Next in interest to the Cathedral is
the Prediger or Dominican church
now used by the French Professionals
1t is a Gothic edifice, built in 1860
Zwingli, the Swiss RefOrmer, held
here the famous discussion in 1928
which induced the senate of Berne tc
introduce the reformed religion into
the city. Interesting old frescoes
were lately discovered in the interior
some dating from the 18th century
some from 1896 and 1904. The former
Dominican Monastery, on whose en-
circling wall Niklaus Manuel, a Der
nese artist, painted forty-six large
frescoes, representing the Dance OF
Death, and of which a wing still re
mains, was often used as In inn by
noble travellers.
Other remarkable places of WORSHIP
in the Swiss capital are the 10Th cen
fury Nydeck church, erected on the
site of an older chapel which stooc
on the ruins Of the former Nydecl