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Bern

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A beautiful panoramic view of the historic city of Bern, Switzerland, featuring famous landmarks like the Bern Minster and the Bundeshaus.

Bern

Bern is the capital city of Switzerland. It is called the "federal city" because it is where the country's government is located. About 146,000 people live in the city, and it is the fifth-largest city in Switzerland after Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Lausanne.

Bern is also the capital of the canton of Bern, a big region in Switzerland. German is the official language, but most people speak a local version called Bernese German. In 1983, the old part of the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its special historic buildings. The city is surrounded by the Aare, a big river that flows through the Swiss Plateau.

The city of Bern was founded around the year 1191. It became a free city in 1218 and joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1353. Since then, Bern has grown into an important city in Swiss history. It became the official capital of Switzerland in 1848.

Bern has many interesting sights to see. One famous landmark is the Zytglogge, a medieval clock tower with moving figures. The city has a large Gothic cathedral called the Münster, a historic town hall, and many covered walkways to explore. Bern is known for its bears, shown on the city's coat of arms. You can see bears in the Bärengraben and at the Dählhölzli zoo. The Federal Palace, where Switzerland's government works, offers tours. The city also has beautiful gardens, interesting fountains, and many old buildings.

People in Bern enjoy many fun activities. The city has theatres, cinemas, and festivals all year. Sports are also popular in Bern. The local football team, BSC Young Boys, plays at the Stadion Wankdorf. BSC Bern is the main ice hockey team in the city, playing in the PostFinance Arena.

Bern is a place where many people go to learn. It has the University of Bern and the University of Applied Sciences, along with schools that teach special skills. Children in Bern start with one year of kindergarten and then six years of primary school.

Getting around Bern is easy. The city has trains, trams, trolleybuses, and buses. The Bern S-Bahn helps people travel easily. There are also many roads and bridges, and special paths for people who ride bicycles.

Images

The Federal Palace of Switzerland in Bern, an important government building.
Historic street view in Bern, Switzerland, featuring the famous Zytglogge clock tower and Zähringerbrunnen fountain.
The main building of the University of Bern, a grand educational institution in Switzerland.
The Zentrum Paul Klee museum in Bern is a beautiful building dedicated to the works of famous artist Paul Klee.
A detailed map showing the natural landscape and terrain of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Historical map of Bern from 1638 by Matthäus Merian.
A historical view of the Swiss city of Bern from 1858, showing its famous medieval towers and architecture.
Historical illustration of Bern, Switzerland, showing the Hotel and Pension Schänzli and the Altenberg Footbridge from the 19th century.
A bird's-eye view of the beautiful city of Bern in Switzerland.
A beautiful view of Bern, Switzerland, showing the tower of the Bern minster against a clear blue sky.
A stunning view of Bern, Switzerland as seen from the International Space Station, showcasing the city's layout from space.
The Erlacherhof, a historic building in the Old City of Berne, Switzerland.
The historic city hall building in Bern, Switzerland.

Related articles

Switzerland
Federal city
Zurich
Geneva
Basel
Lausanne

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Bern, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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