It was built following the destruction of the Christoffelturm which had been part of the third city wall.

It is located north of Bubenbergplatz and surrounds the Heiliggeistkirche and Bern's central train station.

It is part of the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site that encompasses the Old City.

Following the destruction of the third city wall and the Christoffelturm in 1830-32, a plaza was opened up between the Burgerspital and Neuengasse.

On 1 January 1901, the SCB was nationalized and the Bern station went over to the newly formed Swiss Federal Railways.