Bern
Aerial view of the Old City
Country Switzerland Details Canton Bern District Bern-Mittelland administrative district 46°57′N 7°27′E / 46.95°N 7.45°E / 46.95; 7.45Coordinates: 46°57′N 7°27′E / 46.95°N 7.45°E / 46.95; 7.45
Population	133,920 (Dec 2010)[1]
- Density	2,595 /km2 (6,722 /sq mi)
Area	51.62 km2 (19.93 sq mi)[2]
Elevation	542 m (1,778 ft)
- Highest	864 m - Gurten
- Lowest	480 m - Aare
Postal code	3000
SFOS number	0351
Mayor (list)	Alexander Tschäppät SPS/PSS
Demonym	Berner
Surrounded by	Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
Twin towns	Kryvyi Rih
Website	www.bern.ch SFSO statistics
Bern
Location of Bern

The city of Bern or Berne (German: Bern, pronounced [ˈbɛrn] ( listen); French: Berne [bɛʁn]; Italian: Berna [ˈbɛrna]; Romansh: Berna [ˈbɛrnə]; Bernese German: Bärn [b̥æːrn]) is the Bundesstadt (federal city, de facto capital) of Switzerland, and, with (as of December 2010) a population of 133,920,^[3] the fourth most populous city in Switzerland.^[4] The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities,^[5] has a population of 349,000.^[6] The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000.^[7] Bern is also the capital of the Canton of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons.

The official language of Bern is German, but the main spoken language is the Alemannic dialect called Bernese German.

In 1983 the historic old town in the centre of Bern became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Bern is ranked among the world’s top ten cities for the best quality of life (2010).^[8]

Name[link]

The etymology of the name Bern is uncertain. According to the local legend, based on folk etymology, Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, the founder of the city of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on the hunt, and this turned out to be a bear. It has long been considered likely that the city was named after the Italian city of Verona, which at the time was known as Bern in Middle High German. As a result of the find of the Bern zinc tablet in the 1980, it is now more common to assume that the city was named after a pre-existing toponym of celtic origin, possibly *berna "cleft".^[9] The bear was the heraldic animal of the seal and coat of arms of Bern from at least the 1220s. The earliest reference to the keeping of live bears in the Bärengraben dates to the 1440s.

History[link]

Early History[link]

The construction of the Untertor-bridge in Bern, Tschachtlanchronik, late 15th century

No archaeological evidence that indicates a settlement on the site of today′s city centre prior to the 12th century has been found so far. In antiquity, a celtic oppidum stood on the “Engehalbinsel” north of Bern, fortified since the 2nd century BC (late La Tène period), thought to be one of the twelve oppida of the Helvetii mentioned by Caesar. During the Roman era, there was a Gallo-roman vicus on the same site. The Bern zinc tablet has the name Brenodor "dwelling of Breno". In the Early Middle Ages, there was a settlement in Bümpliz, now a city district of Bern, some 4 km (2 mi) from the medieval city.

The medieval city is a foundation of the Zähringer ruling family, which rose to power in Upper Burgundy in the 12th century. According to 14th century historiography (Cronica de Berno, 1309), Bern was founded in 1191 by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen.

In 1218, after Berthold died without an heir, Bern was made a free imperial city by the Goldene Handfeste of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II.

Old Swiss Confederacy[link]

Bern in 1638

In 1353 Bern joined the Swiss Confederacy, becoming one of the "eight cantons" of the formative period of 1353 to 1481. Bern invaded and conquered Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536, as well as other smaller territories, thereby becoming the largest city-state north of the Alps, by the 18th century comprising most of what is today the canton of Bern and the canton of Vaud.

The city grew out towards the west of the boundaries of the peninsula formed by the river Aare. Initially, the Zytglogge tower marked the western boundary of the city from 1191 until 1256, when the Käfigturm took over this role until 1345, which, in turn, was then succeeded by the Christoffelturm (located close to today's train station) until 1622. During the time of the Thirty Years' War two new fortifications, the so-called big and small Schanze (entrenchment), were built to protect the whole area of the peninsula.

After a major blaze in 1405, the original wooden buildings were gradually replaced by half-timbered houses and later the sandstone buildings that came to be characteristic for the Old Town. Despite the waves of pestilence that hit Europe in the 14th century, the city continued to grow mainly due to immigration from the surrounding countryside.^[10]

Modern history[link]

Bern was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, when it was stripped of parts of its territories. It regained the Bernese Oberland in 1802, and following the Congress of Vienna of 1814 newly acquired the Bernese Jura, once again becoming the largest canton of the confederacy as it stood during the Restoration, and further until the secession of the canton of Jura in 1979. In 1848 Bern was made the Federal City (seat of the Federal Assembly) of the new Swiss federal state.

A number of congresses of the socialist First and Second Internationals were held in Bern, particularly during World War I when Switzerland was neutral; see Bern International.

The city's population rose from about 5,000 in the 15th century to about 12,000 by 1800 and to above 60,000 by 1900, passing the 100,000 mark during the 1920s. Population peaked during the 1960s at 165,000, and has since decreased slightly, to below 130,000 by 2000. As of 31 December 2009, the resident population was at 130,289 of which 101,627 were Swiss citizens and 28,662 (22%) resident foreigners. Another estimated 350,000 people live in the immediate urban agglomeration.^[11]

Geography[link]

The Aar flows around the Old City of Bern with a loop east expansive

View of Bern from the ISS. North is down and the Old City is in the upper, left hand side.

Bern lies on the Swiss plateau in the Canton of Bern, slightly west of the centre of Switzerland and 20 km (12 mi) north of the Bernese Alps. The countryside around Bern was formed by glaciers during the most recent Ice Age. The two mountains closest to Bern are the Gurten with a height of 958 m (3,143 ft) and the Bantiger with a height of 947 m (3,107 ft). The site of the old observatory in Bern is the point of origin of the CH1903 coordinate system at 46°57′08.66″N 7°26′22.50″E / 46.9524056°N 7.439583°E / 46.9524056; 7.439583.

The city was originally built on a hilly peninsula surrounded by the river Aare, but outgrew the natural boundaries by the 19th century. A number of bridges have been built to allow the city to expand beyond the Aare.

Bern is built on very uneven ground. There are several dozen metres in difference of height between the inner city districts on the Aare (Matte, Marzili) and the higher ones (Kirchenfeld, Länggasse).

Bern has an area, as of 2009^[update], of 51.62 square kilometers (19.93 sq mi). Of this area, 9.79 square kilometers (3.78 sq mi) or 19.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.33 square kilometers (6.69 sq mi) or 33.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 23.25 square kilometers (8.98 sq mi) or 45.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.06 square kilometers (0.41 sq mi) or 2.1% is either rivers or lakes and 0.16 square kilometers (0.062 sq mi) or 0.3% is unproductive land.^[12]

Of the built up area, 3.6% consists of industrial buildings, 21.7% housing and other buildings, and 12.6% is devoted to transportation infrastructure. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.1% of the city, while another 6.0% consists of parks, green belts and sports fields. 32.8% of the total land area is heavily forested. Of the agricultural land, 14.3% is used for growing crops and 4.0% is designated to be used as pastures. The rivers and streams provide all the water in the municipality.^[12]

Climate[link]

Subdivisions[link]

The municipality is administratively subdivided into six districts (Stadtteile), each of which consists of several quarters (Quartiere).

v t e Districts and quarters of Bern District I Innere Stadt (Old City of Bern) Districts Quarters District II Länggasse-Felsenau: Engeried, Felsenau, Neufeld, Länggasse, Stadtbach, Muesmatt. District III Mattenhof-Weissenbühl: Holligen, Weissenstein, Mattenhof, Monbijou, Weissenbühl, Sandrain. District IV Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde: Kirchenfeld, Gryphenhübeli, Brunnadern, Murifeld, Schosshalde, Beundenfeld. District V Breitenrain-Lorraine: Altenberg, Spitalacker, Breitfeld, Breitenrain, Lorraine. District VI Bümpliz-Oberbottigen: Bümpliz, Oberbottigen, Stöckacker, Bethlehem, Brünnen

Demographics[link]

Apartment blocks at Bern-Bethlehem

Houses in the Old City of Bern

Bern has a population (as of December 2010^[update]) of 133,920.^[1] As of 2010^[update], 23.2% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 0.6%. Migration accounted for 1.3%, while births and deaths accounted for -2.1%.^[14]

Most of the population (as of 2000^[update]) speaks German (104,465 or 81.2%) as their first language, Italian is the second most common (5,062 or 3.9%) and French is the third (4,671 or 3.6%). There are 171 people who speak Romansh.^[15]

As of 2008^[update], the population was 47.5% male and 52.5% female. The population was made up of 44,032 Swiss men (35.4% of the population) and 15,092 (12.1%) non-Swiss men. There were 51,531 Swiss women (41.4%) and 13,726 (11.0%) non-Swiss women.^[16] Of the population in the municipality, 39,008 or about 30.3% were born in Bern and lived there in 2000. There were 27,573 or 21.4% who were born in the same canton, while 25,818 or 20.1% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 27,812 or 21.6% were born outside of Switzerland.^[15]

As of 2000^[update], children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 15.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 65% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.9%.^[14]

As of 2000^[update], there were 59,948 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 49,873 married individuals, 9,345 widows or widowers and 9,468 individuals who are divorced.^[15]

As of 2000^[update], there were 67,115 private households in the municipality, and an average of 1.8 persons per household.^[14] There were 34,981 households that consist of only one person and 1,592 households with five or more people. In 2000^[update], a total of 65,538 apartments (90.6% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 5,352 apartments (7.4%) were seasonally occupied and 1,444 apartments (2.0%) were empty.^[17] As of 2009^[update], the construction rate of new housing units was 1.2 new units per 1000 residents.^[14]

As of 2003^[update] the average price to rent an average apartment in Bern was 1108.92 Swiss francs (CHF) per month (US$890, £500, €710 approx. exchange rate from 2003). The average rate for a one room apartment was 619.82 CHF (US$500, £280, €400), a two room apartment was about 879.36 CHF (US$700, £400, €560), a three room apartment was about 1040.54 CHF (US$830, £470, €670) and a six or more room apartment cost an average of 2094.80 CHF (US$1680, £940, €1340). The average apartment price in Bern was 99.4% of the national average of 1116 CHF.^[18] The vacancy rate for the municipality, in 2010^[update], was 0.45%.^[14]

Historic Population[link]

The historical population is given in the following chart:^[19] <timeline> Colors=

 id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9)
 id:darkgrey  value:gray(0.8)

ImageSize = width:800 height:500 PlotArea = top:10 left: 100 bottom:90 right:100 Legend = columns:3 left:220 top:70 columnwidth:160 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:170000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:30000 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:6000 start:0 Colors=

id:TO     value:yellowgreen      legend:Total
id:GE     value:teal      legend:German_Speaking
id:FR     value:green      legend:French_Speaking
id:PR     value:lightpurple      legend:Protestant
id:CA     value:oceanblue      legend:Catholic
id:SW     value:red      legend:Swiss

PlotData=

 color:yellowgreen width:40   mark:(line,white) align:center
 bar:1850 from:start till:29670 text:"29,670" color:TO
 bar:1880 from:start till:44087 text:"44,087" color:TO
 bar:1910 from:start till:90937 text:"90,937" color:TO
 bar:1930 from:start till:111783 text:"111,783" color:TO
 bar:1950 from:start till:146499 text:"146,499" color:TO
 bar:1970 from:start till:162405 text:"162,405" color:TO
 bar:1990 from:start till:136338 text:"136,338" color:TO

LineData =

 points:(213,188)(307,286)  color:GE
 points:(307,286)(400,331)  color:GE
 points:(400,331)(493,395)  color:GE
 points:(493,395)(587,405)  color:GE
 points:(587,405)(680,349)  color:GE
 points:(213,94)(307,101)  color:FR
 points:(307,101)(400,105)  color:FR
 points:(400,105)(493,114)  color:FR
 points:(493,114)(587,109)  color:FR
 points:(587,109)(680,102)  color:FR
 points:(120,156)(213,184)  color:PR
 points:(213,184)(307,274)  color:PR
 points:(307,274)(400,315)  color:PR
 points:(400,315)(493,370)  color:PR
 points:(493,370)(587,362)  color:PR
 points:(587,362)(680,278)  color:PR
 points:(120,93)(213,98)  color:CA
 points:(213,98)(307,113)  color:CA
 points:(307,113)(400,121)  color:CA
 points:(400,121)(493,145)  color:CA
 points:(493,145)(587,187)  color:CA
 points:(587,187)(680,176)  color:CA
 points:(120,156)(213,185)  color:SW
 points:(213,185)(307,281)  color:SW
 points:(307,281)(400,337)  color:SW
 points:(400,337)(493,418)  color:SW
 points:(493,418)(587,419)  color:SW
 points:(587,419)(680,355)  color:SW

</timeline>

Politics[link]

Erlacherhof

Rathaus

Bern is governed by the Gemeinderat, an executive council with five members, one of them the elected mayor (Stadtpräsident). The parliament has 80 members and is called Stadtrat. Both the legislative and the executive are elected in general elections for a term of four years. The last elections were held in November 2008 with a 43.48% participation.

The executive council has a left-green majority with two representatives, including the mayor Alexander Tschäppät, of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SPS) and one representative of the leftist Green party Grünes Bündnis (GB). It also has a majority of three women against two men.

The seat of the Gemeinderat is the Erlacherhof.

The 80 members of the legislative council belong to 18 different political parties, the strongest being the Social Democratic Party with 20 representatives, followed by the conservative Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP) with 10 and the moderate Green party Grüne Freien Liste (GFL) with 9 seats. Both the far right Swiss People's Party (SVP) and the leftist Green party Grünes Bündnis have 8 seats each.

The Stadtrat meets on Thursday evenings at the Rathaus (Town Hall).

The representatives of the Social Democratic Party and of the Green Parties, collectively referred to as "Red-Green-Center" (Rot-Grüne-Mitte), hold a majority in both councils and mostly determine City policy, although no formal coalition agreement exists and, under the system of direct democracy that prevails in Switzerland, most important issues are settled by general vote.

In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SPS which received 29.12% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the Green Party (24.88%), the SVP (16.73%) and the FDP (15.7%). In the federal election, a total of 43,783 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 51.5%.^[20]

Main sights[link]

The structure of Bern's city centre is largely medieval and has been recognised by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. Perhaps its most famous sight is the Zytglogge (Bernese German for "Time Bell"), an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. It also has an impressive 15th century Gothic cathedral, the Münster, and a 15th century town hall. Thanks to 6 kilometres of arcades, the old town boasts one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe.

Federal Palace of Switzerland (Swiss Parliament Building)

The Zytglogge clock tower and the city's medieval covered shopping promenades (Lauben)

Since the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit (the Bärengraben). The extended and renewed pit off the far end of the Nydeggbrücke actually contains four bears, including two young. During his visit in Bern in 2009, the Russian president and his wife gave two more young bears as a private present.^[21] They are actually in Dählhölzli, Bern's zoo.

The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus), built from 1857 to 1902, which houses the national parliament, government and part of the federal administration, can also be visited.

Albert Einstein lived in an apartment at the Kramgasse 49, the site of the Einsteinhaus, from 1903 to 1905, the year in which the Annus Mirabilis Papers were published.

The Rose Garden (Rosengarten), from which a scenic panoramic view of the medieval town centre can be enjoyed, is a well-kept Rosarium on a hill, converted into a park from a former cemetery in 1913.

Bern's most recent sight is the set of fountains in front of the Federal Palace. It was inaugurated on August 1, 2004.

Bern features many heritage sites of national significance.^[22] Apart from the entire Old Town and many sites within it, these include the Bärengraben, the Gewerbeschule Bern (1937), the Eidgenössisches Archiv für Denkmalpflege, the Kirchenfeld mansion district (after 1881), the Thunplatzbrunnen, the Federal Mint building, the Federal Archives, the Swiss National Library, the Historical Museum (1894), Alpine Museum, Museum of Communication and Natural History Museum.

The Universal Postal Union is situated in Bern.

Heritage sites of national significance[link]

Fountains and bridges Anna Seiler, Gerechtigkeits, Kindlifresserbrunnen, Kreuzgassbrunnen, Läuferbrunnen, Felsenau Viadukt, Halenbrücke, Kirchenfeldbrücke, Kornhausbrücke, Mosesbrunnen, Neubrügg (bridge) (shared with Kirchlindach), Nydeggbrücke, Pfeiferbrunnen, Ryfflibrunnen, Schützenbrunnen, Simsonbrunnen, Untertorbrücke and Felsenburg castle on the far side of the Aare river, Vennerbrunnen and Zähringerbrunnen

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  Anna Seiler Fountain

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  Felsenau Viadukt

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  Gerechtigkeits Fountain

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  Halenbrücke Bridge

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  Kindlifresserbrunnen (fountain)

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  Kirchenfeldbrücke (bridge)

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  Kornhausbrücke (bridge)

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  Kreuzgassbrunnen (fountain)

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  Läuferbrunnen (fountain)

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  Mosesbrunnen

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  Neubrügg (bridge) (shared with Kirchlindach)

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  Nydeggbrücke (bridge)

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  Pfeiferbrunnen (fountain)

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  Ryfflibrunnen (Fountain)

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  Schützenbrunnen (fountain)

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  Simsonbrunnen (fountain)

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  Untertorbrücke (bridge) and Felsenburg castle on the far side of the Aare river

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  Vennerbrunnen (fountain)

Museums and libraries Bernische Stiftung für angewandte Kunst and Gestaltung, Bibliothek am Guisanplatz, Bundeskunstsammlung (Federal Art Collection), Former Kornhaus, Historic Archive and Library of the PTT, Historisches Museum, Kunstmuseum und Kunsthistorisches Seminar (Art Museum and Art History Center of Bern), Museum für Kommunikation, Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Historic collection of the SBB-CFF-FFS, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek Swiss National Library, Schweizerische Theatersammlung, Swiss Alpine Museum, Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv Federal Archives of Switzerland, Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, University Library (Former City and University Library) and Zentrum Paul Klee

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  Bibliothek am Guisanplatz (Former Confederation Military Library)

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  Former Kornhaus (Former Granary, now a Museum)

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  Historic Archive and Library PTT

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  Historisches Museum

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  Kunstmuseum und Kunsthistorisches Seminar (Art Museum and Art History Center of Bern)

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  Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern

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  Historic collection of the SBB-CFF-FFS

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  Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek Swiss National Library

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  Schweizerische Theatersammlung

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  Swiss Alpine Museum

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  Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv Federal Archives of Switzerland

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  Zentrum Paul Klee