The capital of Switzerland, Bern, is a charming blend of the modern and the traditional. This UNESCO recognized Heritage city, boasts of tall church spires and 18th century mansions that jostle for space with spanking new exhibition centres, Grand Prix racetracks and pubs.
Bern is also an eclectic city when it comes to cuisine. You can eat out at any of the myriad restaurants, cafes and eating outlets dotting the city. From Oriental cuisine to Mediterranean delicacies, from Greek food to Spanish cuisine from the land of the Matadors, Bern offers visitors a dazzling array of dining options.
And when it comes to Museums and Theaters, Bern relegates competitors to the background. The Bern Art Gallery, inaugurated in 1918, is a symbol of Bernese cultural accomplishments. The Collection of Classical Antiquities displays fascinating artifacts from the Greek, Roman and Egyptian Empires of the ancient world.
One of the most distinguished citizens of Bern has been Albert Einstein. Visit the Einstein House and the Historical Museum of Bern to know more about the man known as the "Greatest Mind of the 20th century".
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Bern is one of the best examples of mediaeval town planning in Europe and is on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage. |
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It is ideally located to serve as a home base for discovering Switzerland by all forms of transport. |
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One of the longest covered shopping malls in Europe with 6km of arcades. |
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This pedestrians' town puts everything a visitor could seek or desire within walking distance. |
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Unique landmarks: The Zytglogge (Clock Tower), Bear Pit, Parliament Building, Cathedral, etc. |
How to Get There
The city of Bern is close to the intercontinental airport of Zürich (trains leave every half-hour; journey time is approximately 74 minutes) and Geneva (trains leave every hour; journey time is approximately 100 minutes).
Sightseeing
The old town of Bern has been featured in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Take a look round this fabulous cultural site and enjoy the charm of the covered arcades, cobbled streets and decorated facades. In the Old Town there is a Cathedral which is an impressive example of splendid architecture. The Clock Tower is one of Bern’s most important sights. As Bern is the capital of Switzerland, the House & square of Parliament is located here. The House of Parliament is open to the public. Legend has it that when the Duke Berthold V arrived in 1191, the first animal he killed while hunting was a bear ('Barn' is the dialect of the time) and thus the city got its name. Even today the Bear Pitt has been preserved. Bern also has over 100 fountains, arcades and a Zoological Garden.
The Zentrum Paul Klee
On June 20 th 2005, the Zentrum Paul Klee opened its doors to visitors interested in art and to art lovers from all over the world. At the heart of this new cultural institution, is the artist Paul Klee (1879–1940), his life and his work. Today Paul Klee, who was also a musician, teacher and poet, ranks as one of the 20th century’s most significant artists. The Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern, where the artist spent half of his life, is a monument of international renown and a personal tribute to Paul Klee himself.
Clock Tower
Near the center of the old town. On the hour, every hour throughout the day. (Be five minutes early as it starts before the hour!) A stunning display of early animatronic technology and as the locals are proud to tell you "the longest running act in showbusiness". At a few minutes before the hour, it begins with a little song and some flapping from the cock then some drumming by the jester up top. At the hour the bears and the old bearded king get into the act. OK, it's probably a good thing to take kids to see. It tells time too! (And the month, day, sign of the zodiac and phase of the moon). Free. There are guided tours inside the tower that will let people have a look at the clockwork whilst the show is displayed outside. To be booked at the tourist office and defiently worth it if you love mechanics.
Bear Pits
Bear Pits Berne is inseparably linked with bears. According to legend the city’s founder, Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen, named the city after the first animal to be caught here. The saga lives on in the form of the real-live bears in the Bear Pits and the heraldic bear in the Bernese coat of arms.
Gurten
The Gurten is a lovely hill just outside the city. It features a park and great view over the city on one side and a nice panorama of the Bernese alps on the other. The park is visited heavily by locals to play ball, to barbecue or to just lie in the sun. Tourists are not an unusual sight, though this little attraction is missed by most of the many that visit the city. Hiking paths lead in all directions and people will almost certainly stumble across some cows when walking around. A wooden look-out tower allows an even better panorama than that they would already have.
Insider Tip
Take a swim in the Aare River; it is great fun and very refreshing on a hot day. Be aware that this tip is for good swimmers only, otherwise we recommend you to go to the Gurten, that’s a mountain close to Bern with a great view over the Bern region.
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