Introduction
The capital of Switzerland, Bern is also one of the country's larger cities. Bern lies in the part of Switzerland where most of the people speak German, but the city is also close to the French-speaking part of the country. In the German language the city's name is spelled Bern, but in the French language it is spelled Berne. Bern stands on the Swiss plateau between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. The older part of the city is on a high peninsula formed by a loop of the river Aare. Several bridges connect the old town with the newer residential sections.
Places of interest
The city's name comes from the German word for “bear,” and Bern's most famous site is its Bear Pit (Bärengraben), where several bears reside. In fact, Bern has kept bears somewhere in the city since at least 1513. The old section of Bern has many buildings that date from the 1100s to the 1700s. One of these buildings is Bern Cathedral, a gothic-style cathedral built in the 15th century. The cathedral is famous for its tall spire, or steeple. At 328 feet (100 meters), it is the tallest spire in Switzerland, and there are good views of the Alps from its top.
Another important site in Bern is the remains of the old city gate. On the top of the gate's tower is a clock that was installed there in 1530. Moving figures come out of the clock as it chimes each hour. Bern's main government buildings, the Houses of Parliament, were built in 1902. Inside the buildings are pictures and statues that illustrate important events in Switzerland's history.
Economy
Bern has a mixed economy. Many people work for the government, the university, and in business offices. Tourism is important to the city as well. Factories in Bern make milk chocolate, condensed milk, machinery, and scientific instruments. A dam on the Aare River produces hydroelectric power.
History
Bern was begun in 1191 AD as a military post. According to legend, Bern was named for the first animal killed by its founder, Berthold V, when hunting in the area. That animal was a bear, and bears have been an important part of Bern ever since. In 1218, Bern became an imperial city under the Hapsburg rulers. It joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353. A terrible fire destroyed most of the city in 1405, and many buildings in Bern were rebuilt using sandstone. The city spread out as more people moved there, and the surrounding area of Bern grew also. From the 14th to the 18th century, Bern was extremely powerful. This power ended, however, when the French invaded the city in 1798.
French rule ended in 1803, and in 1848 Bern became the capital of Switzerland. In 1983 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named Bern a World Heritage site because of its many historic buildings. The city continued to thrive into the 21st century. Population (1998 estimate), 123,254.
