The Stressed Spirit of Hans Franz Nägeli: The Ghost of the Fricktreppe

February 10, 2026

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An outdated staircase in Bern, Switzerland is claimed to carry an outdated legend. Hans Franz Nägeli, a former chief of town is claimed to hang-out the Fricktreppe within the Previous City, showing to these calling out his title thrice.

Excessive above the winding banks of the Aare River, within the coronary heart of Bern’s storied Previous City, stands the Fricktreppe, a picturesque, coated picket staircase that leads from Münsterplatz all the way down to the river’s edge.

Learn extra: Try all ghost tales from Switzerland

Hidden among the many cobbled streets and steep medieval passageways, the Frick Staircase looks like a spot suspended in time. And for some in Bern, the steps are reportedly haunted by one of many metropolis’s most notorious spirits: the ghost of former metropolis chief, Hans Franz Nägeli.

Hans Franz Nägeli: (c. 1497 – 9 January 1579) was a Swiss politician, military leader and diplomat who was a prominent force in Bern for four decades. He was the Schultheiß, or the chief magistrate, of Bern from 1540 to 1568. — Supply

A Mayor, a Warrior, a Tormented Soul

Hans Franz Nägeli was born round 1497 and rose to nice prominence as a army commander and politician. His most well-known accomplishment was the 1536 conquest of Vaud, increasing Bernese territory deep into French-speaking lands. However regardless of his victories and public service, one thing appears to have adopted him past the grave.

When Nägeli died in 1579, his title was already legendary. But, within the centuries that adopted, whispers started to unfold that his spirit by no means discovered relaxation. Locals say that Nägeli, as soon as a person of energy and management, is now a stressed presence wandering the Fricktreppe the place his soul is claimed to nonetheless be certain to town he dominated and fought for.

The Haunted Fricktreppe

The place Munsterplatz turns into Herrengasse, at #1, is the Fricktreppe, a coated picket staircase, connecting the higher city with the Matte district. The staircase, with its 183 picket steps, dates again to the 14th century.

Although the Fricktreppe is charming by day with its coated picket roof, age-worn steps, and atmospheric views of the river under, it takes on a completely totally different air at night time. The creaking boards, the rustle of wind via historical timbers, and the eerie silence of the Aare under all contribute to a deep sense of unease. Locals have reported feeling watched when passing via after darkish, and some even declare to have heard boots pacing steadily above them, echoing down via centuries.

Because the legend goes, Nägeli’s ghost seems to these daring sufficient to summon him. In accordance with an outdated city legend handed via generations of Bernese youth, when you stand on the base of the Fricktreppe at exactly midnight and name out “Vater Nägeli” 3 times, the mayor’s spirit will descend the steps from the highest, cloaked in darkness.

A narrative tells of two ladies who have been in nice want as soon as, determined to strive something. As they’d heard, they known as out his title 3 times to ask for assist. All of a sudden, a wall opened, and a tall, vibrant determine stepped out of it. “What would you like?” requested a grumpy voice. Then one of many ladies summoned all her braveness and informed the person about their shared misfortune. “Simply go house,” the voice replied. However as the ladies appeared, they noticed that the determine turned darker and darker and eventually disappeared utterly.

When the ladies returned to their rooms, a vibrant mild burned on the desk. A pile of gold lay beside it, together with a big loaf of bread. And though the ladies took a number of the gold every single day, a number of the pile nonetheless remained.

The Ghost of Hans Franz Nägeli

This ritual has change into a ceremony of passage for daring locals. Younger boys, specifically, are mentioned to strive their luck by shouting the ghost’s title after the witching hour. Some do it for enjoyable, others to impress their mates—however few are ready for what would possibly really occur.

Witnesses have claimed to see a tall, stern determine in Sixteenth-century apparel seem on the high of the steps. Much more chilling are the tales of those that say they felt an invisible hand strike them—slapped by the ghostly mayor himself for mocking his title. It’s mentioned that Nägeli will solely tolerate respectful summoning; those that jeer or tease might discover themselves with a bruised cheek or a shaken spirit.

The Treasure Underground

Town’s underground passages conceal a treasure; everybody is aware of that. However not everybody is aware of that Father Nägeli may give the important thing that results in it. Close to the Münzgraben, the passage leads deep, deep underground, and after feeling your approach alongside its partitions for some time, you discover a small, bluish mild within the distance. You method the sunshine – and all of the sudden a larger-than-life, snarling canine blocks your approach. If you realize the password, it permits you to via. And in case you are allowed to proceed in your approach, you come to a gate via which a light-filled room sends a sea of rays out into the darkish passage.

When you’ve change into accustomed to the extreme mild, you’ll see three sacks on the ground of the crypt. From these, you should take a handful of earth after which depart the place instantly. Woe to those that can not pause in silence or can not carry themselves to look again as soon as extra. The earth turns to ash of their arms. However whoever leaves the hall as he was commanded will maintain vibrant gold in each arms on the exit.

Different Ghosts Haunting the Stairs and Avenue

The ghost of Hans Franz Nägeli is actually not the one ghost mentioned to hang-out the world. Every so often, at midnight, an outdated man walks from the Frick stairs towards Junkerngasse. Some declare he walks on goat’s ft, others say he has no ft in any respect. On his approach, nevertheless, he moans and complains loudly: “Put sneakers on each lifeless man’s ft within the grave.”

Maybe this story has a reference to the ghost of the butcher apprentice mentioned to hang-out Rathausgate after being cursed.

Learn the entire story: The Cursed Butcher Apprentice Haunting Rathausgasse in Bern

Others declare to see a younger girl wandering round. She died in childbirth, they are saying, and now has to seek for her baby repeatedly as a result of nobody had put sneakers on her within the grave.

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