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A cultural destination by the riverside: the Dampfzentrale is a venue for contemporary music and dance, housed in a former industrial complex on the banks of the Aare and devoted to exceptional artistry.
The Dampfzentrale in Bern's Marzili district has an eventful history: built as a steam power plant in 1904, since the 1970s it had only been used for storage. At the start of the 1980s it was earmarked for demolition by the city, but saved by the monument preservation department. It was the youth riots that would breathe new life into the industrial complex: the cultural scene occupied the vacant site in 1987 to the strains of “Hansdampf”, a song by Züri West: “Music plays and the skies burn over the gasworks,” sang Kuno Lauener at the time. In the end, the city council gave in and licensed the Dampfzentrale as a cultural centre.
Today, the “Dampere” - as the locals affectionately call it – is an established institution. With more than 500 events per year, the theatre can accommodate an audience of 400. The cultural centre also has a modern, bright restaurant with a wonderful garden by the waterside – the perfect place for a balmy summer evening. Inside the venue there is also plenty to titillate the senses: from flamenco to R&B and from percussion to ballet.
| Season |
February - March
|
|---|---|
| Time required |
1-2 hours
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| Suitable for |
Children, Families, Groups, Individual, Couples
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| Accompanied |
Yes
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|---|---|
| Host / Guide |
Violenta Rominger
|
| Language |
German, Swiss German, Italian
|
| Reservation required |
Yes
|
|---|
The contents listed here are maintained by the regional / local tourist offices or service providers, which is why Switzerland Tourism can not guarantee the contents.
| Equipment |
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Dampfzentrale
Marzilistrasse 47
3005
Bern
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)31 310 05 40
kultur@dampfzentrale.ch
dampfzentrale.ch
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