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Bern

Federal city, city of shopping, pleasure, culture: Bern is diverse and unique. Whether you’re looking for nature, cultural activities, or great food – this is the place for you.

Two people look at the snow-covered city of Bern from the Rosengarten. One is holding a map and pointing out sights, while the other listens attentively. They are enveloped in the silence of a snow-covered landscape, the outline of the cathedral in the background, an image of discovery and admiration of the city's winter beauty.

"It is the most beautiful city we have ever seen", wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about Bern back in 1779. More than 200 years later, the federal city continues to inspire with its beauty. However, Bern is not only visually impressive, but also has an incomparable charm, huge cultural diversity and that attitude to life that can only be felt in Bern.

In this picture, the cathedral platform in Bern is enveloped in the magic of a snowy day. Snow covers the branches of the bare trees and the ground as people, dressed warmly, walk through the winter. The tranquil beauty of the Mattelift in the background, surrounded by the gentle fall of snowflakes, enhances the feeling of winter stillness.
© Bern Welcome
In der blauen Stunde hüllt sich Bern in ein mystisches Licht, während die Schneedecke die Stadt in Stille taucht und das Münster stolz in den Nachthimmel ragt, eine Szene von stiller Pracht.
© Bern Welcome
The picture shows a snowy winter landscape in Bern with a view of the Kirchenfeldbrücke bridge and the surrounding buildings. A calm, peaceful mood hangs over the city. The white snow lends the scene a fairytale-like, clear atmosphere.
© Bern Welcome
The photo shows a street in Bern that leads to the Zytglogge, the famous clock tower. The street is lined with traditional buildings with balconies and flags, including the Swiss flag.
© Bern Welcome
Das Bild zeigt eine verschneite Winterlandschaft in Bern mit einem eleganten Stahlbogen einer Brücke über einem ruhigen Fluss. Die Szene wirkt ruhig und friedlich, mit schneebedeckten Bäumen und Häusern, die eine verträumte, winterliche Stimmung vermitteln.
© Bern Welcome
Auf dem Bild ist die Weihnachtsbeleuchtung in der Berner Altstadt zu sehen.
© Digitale Massarbeit
The picture shows a group of people at a Christmas market, happily standing together and enjoying warm drinks. Surrounded by festive lighting and decorated stalls, the atmosphere is cosy and festive.
© Bern Welcome
The picture shows a wintry landscape with snow-covered trees and a deserted path leading through the snow. A lonely, snow-covered seat invites you to linger. The mood is peaceful, calm and clear, but also conveys a slight melancholy, as if nature is waiting for a change. The radiant sun breaking through the clouds adds a touch of hope and beauty to the scenery.
© Gurten Park im Grünen

Bern's Old City

The Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the heart of Bern. Its arcades do not only protect us from the rain and the sun, they also house a plethora of unique shops and stylish boutiques. One special feature of the Old City are the bars and restaurants in the vaulted cellars – in the past, the sandstone cellars were used to store supplies, now they’re filled with hip beer bars, ateliers, or second-hand shops.

Surrounded by nature

Be it on a bike, on foot, or by water – anyone who’s on the move in the federal city will quickly realize: they’re surrounded by nature. The Aare in particular holds a very special place in the hearts of the locals. Going for a dip in the emerald water of the river is an essential part of a Bernese summer. In the cooler seasons, there are also many ways to explore Bern’s urban nature, for example by going on an e-bike tour or a walk on the Gurten, Bern's local mountain.

Culinary delights

Attention, gourmets! Cozy old-town cafés, elegant restaurants, and hip bars – Bern's gastronomic scene leaves nothing to be desired. Beer fans are also in for a treat: Bern is known as Switzerland's beer capital. With its many breweries and countless beer bars in the city centre, brewed happiness is usually just a short walk away.

Culture

Looking for a museum to visit in Bern? You’re in luck: the city has over 20 of them. So it comes as no surprise that Bern is known as the city of museums. And that’s not all: there’s libraries, archives, the botanical garden, and Jegenstorf castle – a true mecca for fans of cultural activities.

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Political Bern

When transitioning from a confederation (an alliance of independent, sovereign cantons with no unity) to a federation, the people of Switzerland where unable to agree on whether the country should have a capital and if so, which city it should be. The discussion ended in a compromise: on 28 November 1848, the National Council and the Council of States elected Bern to be the home of the federal authorities, however, it is called federal city and not capital. Many foreign visitors are surprised to learn that Bern is Switzerland’s “capital”. To them, it would seem more logic if it were Zurich, the country’s economic centre, or international Geneva. But Bern is perfectly positioned, geographically speaking, for mediating between the different parts of Switzerland, and its multilingualism is also an advantage. This is why, in the end, Bern was chosen to be the country's political centre.

A group of listeners stand in front of the Federal Palace in Bern and listen to a guide. They are looking at a model of the building, their faces bathed in sunlight, which suggests an informative and enjoyable guided tour "1848 - Bern becomes a federal city".

More exciting facts about political Bern

1848 – Bern’s birth as a federal city