Bern

Overview

Switzerland has a beautiful capital city. Bern is a small city with many sights, most of them dating back to the 15-th century.

Bern is also known for its Bear Pits where you can see real bears - theres a myth saying the city's name derives from the German word for bear.

Sights include the 12th-century Clock Tower, the botanical gardens, the Kunstmuseum (Paul Klee), the Albert Einstein House and the arcades in the center where you can shop till you drop under the vaulted arcades.

UNESCO Worldheritage

With its time-honoured sandstone buildings, historic towers and unique fountains Bern is one of the finest examples of mediaeval civic architecture in Europe. The city's appearance has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, earning Bern a place on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Thanks to this honour the city with its popular Bear Pits (the bear is Bern's heraldic symbol) is on a par with Rome, the Egyptian pyramids and the Taj Mahal. Bern is also the seat of the Swiss government.

Covered promenade

Thanks to 6 kilometers of arcades, Bern boasts one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. Under the arcades and on squares and side streets are dozens of restaurants and cafés where you can rest and refresh yourself. And on Tuesday and Saturday mornings this is where you'll find colourful markets for fresh vegetables, flowers and meat.

Green space galore

The River Aare is Bern�s green artery: ideal for summer dips. The river snakes round the Old Town and offers plenty of room for...more

History