The Rathaus on Rathausplatz is one of the finest late-Gothic civic buildings in Switzerland, completed in 1406 — just a year after a fire destroyed most of medieval Bern. The exterior has a double external staircase and a loggia arcade typical of the Swiss Gothic style, with coats of arms carved into the stonework. The building has been the seat of Bern city and cantonal government since the 15th century.
The building is not generally open for interior tours, but the Rathausplatz itself is one of the pleasantest squares in the Old Town, flanked by arcaded buildings and anchored by the Vennerbrunnen (Banner Carrier Fountain). It is a natural stopping point on any walk through the Old Town and considerably less crowded than the Bundesplatz or Münsterplatz.