Bern

Bern (French: Berne, Italian: Berna, Romansh: Berna, Bernese German: Bärn) is the capital city of Switzerland. It is also the capital of the canton of Bern.

For other uses, see Bern (disambiguation).
"Berne" redirects here. For other uses, see Berne (disambiguation).
Bern
Berne
Municipality
Aerial view of the Old City
Aerial view of the Old City
Coat of arms of BernBerne
Coat of arms
Location of Bern
Berne
BernBerne is located in Switzerland
BernBerne
Bern
Berne
BernBerne is located in Canton of Bern
BernBerne
Bern
Berne
Coordinates: 46°56′53″N 7°26′51″E
CountrySwitzerland
CantonBern
DistrictBern-Mittelland administrative district
Government
 • ExecutiveGemeinderat
with 5 members
 • MayorStadtpräsident (list)
Alec von Graffenried GFL
(as of January 2021)
 • ParliamentStadtrat
with 80 members
Area
[1]
 • Total51.62 km2 (19.93 sq mi)
Elevation
(Bahnhofplatz)
540 m (1,770 ft)
Highest elevation
(Könizberg)
674 m (2,211 ft)
Lowest elevation
(Aare near to Eymatt)
481 m (1,578 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2018)[2]
 • Total133,883
 • Density2,600/km2 (6,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)
English: Bernese,
German: Berner(in),
French: Bernois(e),
Italian: Bernese
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)
3000–3030
SFOS number0351
LocalitiesAltenberg, Aaregg, Bümpliz, Bethlehem, Beundenfeld, Bottigen, Breitenrain, Breitfeld, Brunnadern, Dählhölzli, Engeried, Gäbelbach, Grosser Bremgartenwald, Gryphenhübeli, Felsenau, Holligen, Innere Stadt, Kirchenfeld, Könizbergwald, Länggasse, Lorraine, Muesmatt, Murifeld, Neufeld, Sandrain, Schosshalde, Spitalacker, Stöckacker, Tiefenau, Wankdorf, Weissenbühl, Weissenstein
Surrounded byBremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
Websitewww.bern.ch
SFSO statistics

As of early 2006, 127.000 people lived in the city.

History

Bern was started in 1191 by Berchthold V. von Zähringen. A legend says that he said he would name the city after the next animal he caught. So when he caught a bear (German: "Bär") the city was named Bern. Zähringen built the city in the half-circle the river Aare makes.

Traffic

Public streetcars and buses are run by an organization called BernMobil. There are 3 streetcar lines and about 15 bus lines. Most of the lines are in the city but some travel away from the city. There is also the Marzilibahn, a funicular (inclined- or cliff-railway) which goes from the banks of the Aare up to the Federal Building (German: "Bundeshaus"). The Marzilibahn is 105 meters long. It is the shortest funicular in Europe. Another funicular, called the Gurtenbahn, goes from the section of Bern called Wabern, which is on the river Aare, up to the top of Gurten, a large hill 585 meters high that is just south of Bern. A small airport, Belpmoos, is located a short distance south of Bern in Belp.

Folk Festivals

Zibelemärit (onion market)

Each year, on the 4th Monday in November, there is the Onion Market in Bern, where onions are sold. Many people visit the market in the early morning and throw confetti. They also hit other people with hammers made out of plastic

Aareleuchten (glowing Aare)

Since 1996, every August 1 (a national holiday in Switzerland) they hold the Aareleuchten. The Aareleuchten is paid for by SwissAid. During the festival, people put small ships with a light in them into the river Aare. All of these small lights make the Aare "glow."

  • The Swiss parliament building in Bern
    The Swiss parliament building in Bern
  • View towards the cathedral called "Münster"
    View towards the cathedral called "Münster"
  • One of the many fountains in the old part of the city
    One of the many fountains in the old part of the city
  • View over the river Aare towards the modern part of the city.
    View over the river Aare towards the modern part of the city.
  • Another picture of the Aare in Bern
    Another picture of the Aare in Bern

References
  1. "Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeinden nach 4 Hauptbereichen". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. Error: Unable to display the reference properly. See the documentation for details.

Other websites
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bern.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide about: Bern
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