Bern

For other uses, see Bern (disambiguation).

"Berne" redirects here. For other uses, see Berne (disambiguation).

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.

Bern Berne
Municipality
Aerial view of the Old City
Coat of arms
Location of Bern Berne
Bern Berne Show map of Switzerland Bern Berne Show map of Canton of Bern
Coordinates: 46°56′53″N 7°26′51″E
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Bern-Mittelland administrative district
Government
• Executive	Gemeinderat with 5 members
• Mayor	Stadtpräsident (list) Alec von Graffenried GFL (as of January 2021)
• Parliament	Stadtrat with 80 members
Area [1]
• Total	51.62 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]
• Total	133,883
• Density	2,600/km2 (6,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	English: Bernese, German: Berner(in), French: Bernois(e), Italian: Bernese
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)	3000–3030
SFOS number	351
Localities	Altenberg, 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 by	Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
Website	www.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."

Gallery

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