Bear pit, Bear pit in Bern, Switzerland
The Bärengraben features a deep stone enclosure located near the Aare River, connected to a modern park area extending down the riverbank.
The bear pit opened in 1857 as the fourth location for keeping bears in Bern, following a tradition that started with the first documented bear enclosure in 1441.
Bears maintain central importance in Bern as the heraldic animal appears on the city coat of arms, reflected in this national heritage structure.
The facility remains accessible throughout the year without entrance fees, while guided tours provide information about the bears and their living environment.
The structure combines the historical pit with a modern 6,000-square-meter park, allowing bears to roam freely between different elevation levels.
Location: Bern
Inception: 1857
Official opening: 1857
Website: https://tierpark-bern.ch/baerenpark
Part of: list of cultural properties in Bern / Kirchenfeld-Schosshalde, BärenPark Bern
Address: Grosser Muristalden 4, 3006 Bern
Website: https://tierpark-bern.ch/baerenpark
GPS coordinates: 46.94802,7.45963
Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:38
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