A church spire, the highest in Switzerland, greets visitors to the Bern Munster (bernermuenster.ch), a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The tiered construction and pointed top of the spire have earned it the nickname “Gothic rocket.” Church construction began in 1421 as a Roman Catholic cathedral, but before a bishop could be seated, the Reformation swept across Bern, and it became a Protestant place of worship. Inside, the Last Judgment features more than 200 wood and stone carvings, many from the 15th century. Several stained glass windows also date from the 1400s. One window depicts the equality of death, and shows grinning skeletons harassing people from all walks of life. Visitors may climb the bell tower for expansive views of the city and surrounding mountains. The adjacent square hosts an annual Christmas market where visitors experience an Advent atmosphere of ornaments, baked goods and traditional Swiss libations.