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Bern Travel Guide, Switzerland

   Berne, Switzerland - Overview  

Berne is a regarded as one of the most charming cities of Switzerland with as historical, political and cultural importance. It is also considered as the best entertainment spot in Switzerland.

Originally built on a hilly peninsula, Berne is also called the floral city of Europe. Most of the population of Berne speaks German and a high-Alemannic dialect Bernese German. Some of the people also speak Mattenenglisch and French. Berne produced a number of notable personalities like the poet Albert Bitzius, Mani Matter, reformer Albrecht von Haller and the German-born physicist Albert Einstein who spent many years of his life in Berne.

The city of Berne was founded by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen in 1191. He named it after a bear he had killed. It became the imperial free city by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. In 1353, Berne became the member of Swiss Confederation. Till the middle of the 14th century, Berne became the largest territory after invading Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536. During the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798, it was occupied by French Troops.

In 1831, Berne became the capital of Canton of Berne and in 1848 it became the Swiss capital. Berne grew outwards the west boundaries and incorporated many areas. During the Thirty Years’ War, two entrenchment big and small Schanze were built to protect the peninsula. This protection was sufficient to protect Berne up to the 19th century.

The city offers panoramic views, which attract a large number of tourists from every part of the world.

The landscape in Berne comes out of glaciers in the old ages. Two great mountains in Berne are Gurten and Bantiger. In the mid of 18th century, two bridges Nydeggbrücke and Kirchenfeldbrücke were built to link Berne with the other cities.

Berne is governed by the Council system. Most of the important issues are handled by general referendums. Politically, Berne has strong foundations. Major political parties are democratic parties of Berne, Social Democratic Party and green party.

Berne is a city of great historical importance. It has been recognized as a world’s cultural and heritage site. It is also a popular travel destination for tourists from all over the world. Some of the most popular tourism spots in Berne are The Garden of Roses, Zytglogge, 15th century Gothic cathedral, Museum of Arts, Town Hall, Einstein House, Historic Museum, Psychiatry Museum, Alpine Museum, Theater am Käfigturm, Tojo Theater, Schlachthaus-theater.

Berne also holds a number of festivals every year. The common festivals are Berner Tanztage, Buskers festival, BeJazz Summer and Winter Festival, Internationales Jazzfestival Bern and Taktlos-Festival.

 Football is the most popular sport of Berne.

 
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Read our members' reviews about Bern


  • bicskaShort vacation in Oradea
    review by bicska posted more then 30 days ago
    I was home for 5 and half day, it was beatiful, and I need to thank for all of my friends for the many nice meetings, parties, talks. It was a very good almoust 6 days long short-week. Everybody knows how much I really love travelling, but Home is the best. Next time I can go home in 17th of...
  • bicskaTraveling to Bern
    review by bicska posted more then 30 days ago
    I'm living at the moment in Bern (Switzerland). It is really interested to live in here, are happening some strange, but positive strange things what I wasn't expected in my life. I want to go in this year all around west and south Europe. I started to book the tickets, the hotels, hostels,...
  • bicskaBern experience
    review by bicska posted more then 30 days ago
    Yesterday night, after I arrived home from Bern(from the old car festival) and I uploded the pictures, I realised how much I love making pictures. Is not just my work, is not just my hobby, it's much more than that... it is a vision, an illusion or much more than I could circumscribe, the truth...
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Read our members' travel tips about Bern


  • bicska'Fastnacht'
    travel tip by bicska posted more then 30 days ago
    The Fastnacht(or in 'bärndütsch' fasnacht) is one of the bigest event in this muliticultural country, irrespectively of different cantons(regions). This carneval naturally is going out in februar, in each city for from 3 to 5 days, the...
  • bicskaChine restaurant
    travel tip by bicska posted more then 30 days ago
    In the center of Bern is a really interested Chine restaurant, with the best chine food in Switzerland, thay said! Well I don't know how are the other restaurants, but this one is fantastic. When you enter you can fill the original...
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