Bern Travel Poster: Gurten-Bahn by Anton Reckziegel, 1903

Gurten-Bahn Bern by Anton Reckziegel (1903) is a luminous slice of the golden age of Swiss travel—when a day’s excursion by funicular could promise alpine air, panoramic city views, and the romance of modern engineering. Created at the height of the Art Nouveau era, the poster celebrates the Gurten, Bern’s beloved local mountain, and the sleek Gurtenbahn that whisks visitors from the city’s edge up to meadows and outlook points over the Aare and the old town’s rooftops. With flowing ornament, heraldic details, and a rich, scenic panorama, Reckziegel makes a compelling case for Bern as both gateway to the Alps and a destination in its own right.

This listing is for a museum-quality fine art print of Gurten-Bahn Bern, produced by The Unique Maps Co. Choose from acid-free, archival paper or artist’s cotton canvas, both printed with long-lasting, fade-resistant pigment inks. Multiple sizes are available to suit your space, and we offer framing in classic black, white, or natural wood. Personalization—such as a commemorative date line or a short dedication—can be added on request, and custom sizing is available to fit your preferred frame or mounting.

Anton Reckziegel, an Austrian landscape painter with formal training in Graz, brought a cartographer’s precision and a poster artist’s flair to the Swiss tourism boom. After early work in Vienna, he spent formative years in Switzerland with billboard and printing firms in Bern, developing the bold, location-forward style that made his name. For roughly a decade, his dramatic vistas and elegant lettering helped define the visual identity of Swiss rail and mountain resorts before he later returned to Austria to continue painting the landscapes he loved.

The subject itself is a perfect emblem of turn-of-the-century travel culture: the Gurtenbahn offered effortless ascent to nature from the city below, encapsulating the era’s proud union of engineering and leisure. This poster doesn’t just sell a ride; it sells a view—the sweep of Bern’s skyline, the soft silhouette of distant peaks, and the promise of fresh pastures only minutes from town. Decorative flourishes—including floral motifs and heraldic emblems—channel local pride and help prospective visitors immediately recognize both the place and its character.

Stylistically, the work leans into Art Nouveau’s organic curves and rounded forms, balanced by crisp architectural detail. A warm palette—anchored by deep reds, earthy browns, and verdant greens—draws the eye from the title band and heraldic elements into the rolling hills and wooded slopes. There’s a deft blend of realism and idealization here: carefully shaded roofs and trees suggest a near-photographic clarity, while sinuous borders and elegant type elevate the scene into a refined advertisement. The result is both an artwork and an invitation—one that still feels fresh, charming, and distinctly Swiss.

This fine art print makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who has lived in or visited Bern, ridden the Gurten funicular, or fallen in love with Swiss rail travel and alpine landscapes. It’s a standout choice for housewarmings, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or to welcome someone home from a memorable trip to Switzerland. Whether for a hallway gallery, a living room feature wall, or an office with wanderlust, Gurten-Bahn Bern brings the spirit of Bern—and the joy of the journey—right to your space.

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my fine art personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised artwork is always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your art print to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.

I can print and frame this beautiful piece of art at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This artwork is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This artwork is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The work is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present an art print without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas art and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.