Schifflaube

The Schifflaube in Bern follows the curve of the Aare River, lined with narrow, multi-story buildings that feature heavy wooden shutters and stone foundations. This street once served as the primary shipyard for the city, where workers constructed the flat-bottomed boats that ferried goods up and down the river. In seventeen sixty-two, a massive flood swept through this low-lying area, forcing residents to rebuild their homes against the powerful currents. The water marks from that night still stain the lower walls.