Bern, Capital city in western Switzerland
Bern is a federal capital in western Switzerland, set on a river peninsula enclosed by the Aare. The medieval center stretches along winding streets with six kilometers (nearly four miles) of sandstone arcades, towers and buildings from the 13th to 16th centuries.
A duke founded the city in 1191 as a military post between German-speaking and French-speaking territories. It became a free imperial city in 1218 and later the political center of the Swiss Confederation.
Local families spend summer afternoons along the Aare, where river swimming is a popular tradition. In the old town cafés people speak both German and French, reflecting the bilingual atmosphere of the region.
The main railway station sits directly next to the parliament building and offers regional trains to many Swiss cities. The old town is mostly car-free, and public transport connects all major neighborhoods.
Since the 15th century the city has kept live bears, which now reside in a riverside park reflecting the coat of arms animal. Beneath the arcades lie hundreds of small shops that have operated continuously as businesses for centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
