Bern Information: Tickets, Venues, Events and More

The federal city of ‘Berne,’ also known as Bern, is the Bundesstadt or de facto capital of Switzerland. It is considered the fifth most populous city of Switzerland with 128,041 inhabitants after Zürich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne.

Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen had founded this city on banks of Aare River in 1191. It is believed that he had named it after a bear (Bär in German) he had allegedly killed. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II made this city, Imperial Free City in 1218. Berne became part of the Swiss Confederation in 1353. It turned into a leading member of the newly established state. Berne became the largest city-state north of the Alps after the invasions and conquers of Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536 to several smaller territories. The French troops occupied it in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars. It became capital of the Canton of Berne in 1831. Berne became Swiss capital additionally in 1848.

Berne saw tremendous development towards its western portion of peninsula that is formed by the Aar River. The Zytglogge tower marked the western boundary of the city at the initial stage from 1191 to 1256. Käfigturm had already taken control over it and ruled it until 1345. The period of Thirty Years' War had two new fortifications. They were so-called big and small Schanze that was built to protect the entire area. These edifices were sufficient to protect the city hence supporting it to grow in good pace throughout the 19th century.

This city witnessed many socialist congresses during the first and second internationals, particularly during World War I when Switzerland was declared neutral. A huge number of the residents of Berne comprising 81% speak German, which is but Bernese German, with high-Alemannic dialect.

Berne is also in the limelight as the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons – the capital of the Canton of Berne. Eminent physicist Albert Einstein was born in Germany but worked out his theory of relativity while being employed as a clerk at the patent office of Berne.