Bern
| Bern Berne Bärn |
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| Population | 128,041 (2007[update]) | |||||||||
| - Density | 2,481 /km2 (6,427 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 51.6 km2 (19.9 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 542 m (1,778 ft) | |||||||||
| - Highest | 674 m - Könizberg | |||||||||
| - Lowest | 480 m - Aar | |||||||||
| Postal code | 3000 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 0351 | |||||||||
| Mayor (list) | Alexander Tschäppät (as of 2005) SPS/PSS | |||||||||
| Demonym | Berner | |||||||||
| Surrounded by (view map) |
Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Salzburg (Austria) | |||||||||
| Website | www.bern.ch SFSO statistics |
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![BernBerneBärn [zoom] is located in Switzerland](http://wiki.xiaoyaozi.com/en/File:Switzerland_location_map.svg.htm)
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The city of Bern or Berne (German: 
Bern (help·info) [bɛrn], French: Berne [bɛʀn], Italian: Berna [ˈbɛrna], Romansh: Berna [ˈbɛrnə], Bernese German: Bärn [b̥æːrn]) is the Bundesstadt (federal city, de facto capital) of Switzerland and, with 128,041 people (agglomeration: 344,000 / metropolitan area: 660,000), the fifth most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich, Geneva, Basel and Lausanne) and the fourth most populous urban area (after Zürich, Geneva and Basel).
The official language of Bern is German. The local Swiss German dialect is Bernese German, spoken by most of the inhabitants. Due to the presence of a large part of the federal administration, several embassies and a fair number of immigrants, the other national languages and many others may be heard in the streets.
Bern also functions as the capital of the Canton of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons.
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History
Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen founded the city on the River Aare in 1191 and allegedly named it after a bear (Bär in German) he had killed. It was made an Imperial Free City by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir. In 1353 Bern joined the young Swiss Confederation, becoming a leading member of the new state. It invaded and conquered Aargau in 1415 and Vaud in 1536, as well as other smaller territories, thereby becoming the largest city-state north of the Alps. It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, when it was stripped of most of its territories. In 1831 the city became the capital of the Canton of Bern and in 1848 it additionally became the Swiss capital.
The city grew out towards the west of the boundaries of the peninsula formed by the river Aar. Initially, the Zytglogge tower marked the western boundary of the city from 1191 until 1256, when the Käfigturm took over this role until 1345, which, in turn, was then succeeded by the Christoffelturm (located close to today's train station) until 1622. During the time of the Thirty Years' War two new fortifications, the so-called big and small Schanze (entrenchment), were built to protect the whole area of the peninsula. The protection by these edifices was sufficient for the prosperous growth of the city of Bern up to the 19th century.
A number of congresses of the socialist First and Second Internationals were held in Bern, particularly during World War I when Switzerland was neutral. (See Bern International.)
Geography
Bern lies in the Swiss plateau within the Canton of Bern, somewhat west of the center of Switzerland and 20 km (12 mi) north of the Bernese Alps. The landscape around Bern was formed by glaciers in the last Ice Age. The two mountains closest to Bern are the Gurten with a height of 858 meters (2,815 ft) and the Bantiger with a height of 947 meters (3,107 ft). The site of the old observatory in Bern is the point of origin of the CH1903 coordinate system at 46°57′08.66″N 7°26′22.50″E / 46.9524056°N 7.4395833°E / 46.9524056; 7.4395833.
The city was originally built on a hilly peninsully surrounded by the river Aar but outgrew these natural boundaries in the 19th century. A number of bridges were built to allow the city to grow beyond the Aar.
Bern is built on very uneven ground. There are several dozens of meters in height difference from the quarters on the Aar (Matte, Marzili) to the higher ones (Kirchenfeld, Länggasse).
Bern has an area of 51.6 km² (19.9 sq mi). Of this area, 20.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 33.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 44.2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (2.1%) is non-productive (rivers or glaciers).[1]
Subdivisions
The municipality is administratively subdivided into six districts (Stadtteile), each of which consists of several quarters (Quartiere).
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Demographics
Bern has a population (as of 2007[update]) of 122,658, of which 22.5% are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of 1.4%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (81.2%), with Italian being second most common ( 3.9%) and French being third ( 3.6%).
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SPS which received 29.1% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the Green Party (24.9%), the SVP (16.7%) and the FDP (15.7%).
The age distribution of the population (as of 2000[update]) is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 15.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 65% and the seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.9%. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Bern about 72.8% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule).
Bern has an unemployment rate of 3.22%. As of 2005[update], there were 773 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 104 businesses involved in this sector. 16,484 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 1,094 businesses in this sector. 131,659 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 7,638 businesses in this sector.[1]
Politics
Bern is governed by an 80-member legislative council (Stadtrat) and a 5-member executive council (Gemeinderat).
As of 2005, the representatives of the Social Democratic Party and of the three Green parties hold a majority in both councils (3 to 2 and 43 to 37, respectively). For this reason, it is they, collectively referred to as "Red-Green-Center" (Rot-Grün-Mitte), who mostly determine City policy, although no formal coalition agreement exists and, under the system of direct democracy that prevails in Switzerland, most important issues are settled by general referendum. The other major political parties of Bern are the Free Democratic Party (FDP, free-market liberal) and the Swiss People's Party (SVP, nationalist, conservative).
The office of mayor (Stadtpräsident), as a primus inter pares (first among equals) in the executive council, is mostly representative. As of 2005, the mayor of Bern is Alexander Tschäppät of the Social Democrats.
Main sights
Bern's city center is largely medieval and has been recognised by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site. Perhaps its most famous sight is the Zytglogge (Bernese German for "Time Bell"), an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. It also has an impressive 15th century Gothic cathedral, the Münster, and a 15th century town hall. Thanks to 6 kilometers of arcades, the old town boasts one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe.
Since the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit (the Bärengraben), which can be visited off the far end of the Nydeggbrücke, although this no longer contains any bears, the last being put down in 2009[2]. The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus), dating from 1902, which houses the national parliament and part of the federal administration, can also be visited.
Einstein lived in an apartment at the Kramgasse 49, the site of the Einsteinhaus, from 1903 to 1905, the year in which the Annus Mirabilis Papers were published.
The Garden of Roses (Rosengarten), from where a scenic panorama view of the medieval city core can be enjoyed, is a well-kept Rosary on a hill, converted into a park from a former cemetery in 1913.
Bern's most recent sight is the set of fountains in front of the Federal Palace. It was inaugurated on August 1, 2004.
Bern features many heritage sites of national significance.[3] Apart from the entire Old Town and many sites within it, these include the Bärengraben, the Gewerbeschule Bern (1937), the Eidgenössisches Archiv für Denkmalpflege, the Kirchenfeld mansion district (after 1881), the Thunplatzbrunnen, the Federal Mint building, the Federal Archives, the Swiss National Library, the Historical Museum (1894), Alpine Museum, Museum of Communication and Natural History Museum.
Culture
Theaters
- Bern Theatre[4]
- Narrenpack Theater Bern[5]
- Schlachthaus-theater[6]
- Tojo Theater
- The Theater on the Effinger-Street[7]
- Theater am Käfigturm[8]
Movie theaters
Bern has several dozen movie theaters. As is customary in Switzerland, movies are generally shown in their original language (e.g., English) with subtitling in German and French. Only a small number of screenings are dubbed in German.
- Queersicht - gay and lesbian film festival, held annually in the second week of November.
Festivals
- BeJazz Summer and Winter Festival
- Buskers festival
- Gurtenfestival
- Internationales Jazzfestival Bern
- Queersicht - Queer Filmfestival, annually held second week of November.
- Taktlos-Festival
Fairs
- Zibelemärit - The Zibelemärit (onion market) is an annual fair held on the fourth Monday in November.
Sport
The football team BSC Young Boys is based in Bern at the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf, which also is one of the venues for the European football championship.
The Stade de Suisse hosted a number of matches during the 2008 UEFA Euro Cup tournament.
SC Bern is the major ice hockey team of Bern who plays at the PostFinance Arena.
The PostFinance Arena will be main host of the 2009 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, including the opening game and the final of the tournament.
Bern Cardinals is the baseball and softball team of Bern, which plays at the Allmend
Bern Grizzlies is the American football club in Bern and plays at Sportanlage Schonau.
Bern was a candidate to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, but withdrew its bid in September 2002 after a referendum was passed that showed that the bid was not supported by locals. Those games were eventually awarded to Vancouver, Canada.
Education
Bern has a University, a University of Applied Science and several vocational schools.
The University of Bern is spread over several buildings which are mainly located in the Länggasse quarter.
The University of Applied Science (Fachhochschule) is also located in Bern.
Transport
Bern is well connected to other cities by several highways (A1, A12, A6).
Public transport works well in Bern, with tram, S-Bahn and bus lines which connect the different parts of the City. Bern Rail Station connects the City to the national and international train network. A funicular leads from the Marzili quarter to the Bundeshaus. This funicular is, with a length of 106 m, the second shortest public railway in Europe after the Zagreb Funicular. Several Aar bridges connect the old parts of the city with the newer quarters outside of the peninsula.
Bern is served by Bern Airport, located outside the city near the village of Belp. The regional airport, colloquially called Bern-Belp or Belpmoos, is connected to several Swiss and European cities.
Weather
 Weather averages for Bern  |
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 2.2 (36) |
4.6 (40) |
8.5 (47) |
12.6 (55) |
17.2 (63) |
20.6 (69) |
23.5 (74) |
22.7 (73) |
19.4 (67) |
13.7 (57) |
7.1 (45) |
3 (37) |
12.9 (55) |
| Daily Mean °C (°F) | -1.2 (30) |
0.5 (33) |
3.7 (39) |
7.3 (45) |
11.5 (53) |
14.9 (59) |
17.3 (63) |
16.4 (62) |
13.3 (56) |
8.6 (47) |
3.1 (38) |
-0.3 (31) |
7.9 (46) |
| Average low °C (°F) | -3.7 (25) |
-2.4 (28) |
-0.1 (32) |
3 (37) |
6.9 (44) |
10.1 (50) |
12.1 (54) |
11.7 (53) |
9 (48) |
5.3 (42) |
0.5 (33) |
-2.6 (27) |
4.2 (40) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 66 (2.6) |
58 (2.28) |
70 (2.76) |
84 (3.31) |
108 (4.25) |
121 (4.76) |
104 (4.09) |
113 (4.45) |
84 (3.31) |
73 (2.87) |
81 (3.19) |
67 (2.64) |
1,028 (40.47) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 10 | 9.8 | 11.3 | 11.6 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 10 | 10.9 | 8.1 | 8 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 125.5 |
| Source: MeteoSchweiz [9] 8 May 2009 | |||||||||||||
Miscellaneous
- The Universal Postal Union is situated in Bern.
- Bern was featured as one of the scenarios in the original SimCity video game
- The city of New Bern, North Carolina in the USA is named after Bern, having been founded in 1710 by Christoph von Graffenried, a minor Swiss noble from Bern who attempted to set up Swiss settlement in the New World.
- The German-born physicist Albert Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while employed as a clerk at the Bern patent office.
Notable people
- Mikhail Bakunin died in Bern on July 1, 1876
- Albert Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while living in Bern, employed as a clerk at the patent office
- Albrecht von Haller
- Ferdinand Hodler
- Paul Klee
- Mani Matter, songwriter
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bern |
- City of Bern
- Bern (Gemeinde) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- GIS City of Bern
- Bern Public Transportation Website (BernMobil)
- Bern travel guide from Wikitravel
- CityHunter Bern
- Gurtenfestival
References
- ^ a b Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 29-May-2009
- ^ [1] "Old age overtakes an ages old tradition"], April 30, 2009
- ^ Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance (1995), p. 103–105.
- ^ "Stadttheater Bern". http://www.stadttheaterbern.ch/. Retrieved on 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Narrenpack Theatre Bern". http://www.narrenpack.ch/. Retrieved on 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Schlachthaus Theatre Bern". http://www.schlachthaus.ch/. Retrieved on 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Das Theatre an der Effingerstrasse". http://www.dastheater-effingerstr.ch/. Retrieved on 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Theater am Käfigturm". http://www.theater-am-kaefigturm.ch/. Retrieved on 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Average Values-Table, 1961-1990" (in German, French, Italian). Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss. http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html. Retrieved on 8 May 2009.
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