Bahnhofplatz

{{For|the plaza in Zurich, Switzerland|Bahnhofplatz, Zürich}}{{Short description|City square in Bern, Switzerland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Use British English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox street | name = Bahnhofplatz | native_name = | image = Bern Bahnhofplatz.PNG | caption = Old City of Bern with Bahnhofplatz highlighted | former_names = | postal_code = 3011 | addresses = | length = | width = | location = Old City of Bern, Bern, Switzerland | client = | owner = | current_tenants = | sector = | category = | coordinates = {{coord|46|56|52.82|N|7|26|25.11|E}} | commissioning_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = 1832 | inauguration_date = | demolition_date = | main_contractor = | cost = }}

The '''Bahnhofplatz''' ({{IPA|de|ˈbaːnhoːfˌplats}}, {{lit|train station square}}) is a plaza just outside the Old City of Bern, the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. It was built following the destruction of the ''Christoffelturm'' which had been part of the third city wall. It is located north of Bubenbergplatz and surrounds the ''Heiliggeistkirche'' and Bern's central train station. It is part of the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site that encompasses the Old City.

==History== thumb|left|350px|Bahnhofplatz with the ''Heiliggeistkirche'' in the background Following the destruction of the third city wall and the ''Christoffelturm'' in 1830-32, a plaza was opened up between the ''Burgerspital'' and Neuengasse. Initially the plaza was known as ''Kasernenplatz'' (Barracks Plaza) due to the neighboring cavalry barracks, though the name quickly changed to ''Spitalplatz'' (Hospital Plaza) due to the nearby ''Burgerspital''. The plaza was the site of the cabbage market in Bern.<ref>{{cite book |title= Historisch-topographisches Lexikon der Stadt Bern|last= Weber |first= Berchtold|year= 1976 |url=http://www.digibern.ch/weber/weber_ba.html#Bahnhofplatz |accessdate= 10 February 2010 |language=de|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114052124/http://www.digibern.ch/weber/weber_ba.html#Bahnhofplatz |archivedate=14 November 2010}}</ref>

In June 1857, the SCB ({{langx|de|Schweizerische Centralbahn}}, or Swiss Central Train Line) completed a line between Basel and Bern. Then, two years later the Bern-Thun line opened and on 2 July 1860 another line reached Thörishaus, now part of Köniz.<ref>[http://www.digibern.ch/weber/weber_sa.html#SCB Weber - SCB]</ref> While the rail lines were being built, a central train station was built on the northern end of the plaza. During the construction of the new station, the plaza was renamed Bahnhofplatz. On 1 January 1901, the SCB was nationalized and the Bern station went over to the newly formed Swiss Federal Railways.

==References== {{reflist}} {{commonscat|Bahnhofplatz (Bern)}} {{Old City of Bern}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahnhofplatz}} Category:Squares in Bern Category:Old City (Bern)