Bear Pit, Bear pit in Bern, Switzerland
The Bärengraben is a circular, open-topped stone basin sunk below street level, its tall curving wall topped by a metal railing and signs reading "BÄREN" and "BÄRENPARK". Opened in 1857, it is the fourth bear enclosure in Bern and now forms part of the BärenPark, to which a tunnel leads.
Bern's tradition of keeping bears began in 1441, and the current facility opened in 1857 as the fourth location for this practice. The site thus bridges more than 600 years of history with modern animal care standards.
The bear holds a central place in Bern's identity as the city's coat of arms animal, and this connection remains visible in how the space is maintained and presented to visitors today.
The site is free to visit year-round and offers walking paths along the riverbank with good views from multiple vantage points. Guided tours are available if you want to learn more about the animals and how the space is managed.
The Bärengraben is the fourth bear enclosure in Bern, opened in 1857 and later linked by a tunnel to the 6,000-square-metre BärenPark on the slope down to the River Aar. The small pit added in 1925 no longer houses bears; it now gives access to the shop and serves as a performance space.
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