Switzerland: Bern

Bern, also known as Berne in French, is the 5th most populous city in Switzerland. The official language of this region of Switzerland is German, however the is a Bernese dialect. The town is supposedly named after "bear" because this was the first animal that the founder of the city found while hunting. Bern is approximately 500m above sea level, with the closest mountains being the Gurten and the Bantiger.

For a more general description about what I did each day, please see the main post: 

http://www.fabienne-emilie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/switzerland.html

Wednesday, 23rd October, 2013

The main building of the "University of Bern", which was founded in 1834. 

The Bern "Kunstmuseum" (Fine Arts Museum), established in established in 1879, is the oldest art museum in Switzerland with a permanent collection. Its holdings run from the Middle Ages to contemporary art.

The "Bear Park" in Bern with a tightrope walking bear above it.

One of the bears in the "Bear Park". The earliest records show that the bears were held in a pit from 1513, but only recently was the large, more open enclosure built for the bears due to a high number of complaints about the conditions the bears were forced to live in.

The "Rathaus" (Town Hall), built between 1406 and 1415.

Thursday, 24th October, 2013

The "Bern Historical Museum", built in 1894. The was one of my favourite museums due to the large amount of things that were inside.

The "Federal Palace", overlooking the river. The building was completed in 1902.

The Swiss Federal Assembly (federal parliament) and the Federal Council are housed in the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Construction of the "Bern Münster" started in 1402, however the tower (with a height of 100.6m) was not finished until 1893.

Inside the "Bern Münster", which is a Swiss Reformed Cathedral.

The "Marktgasse" of Bern is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that covers the Old City of Bern; it was first mentioned in records in the 13th Century. 

The "Marktgasse" includes a number of different clock towers and fountains. Above is the "Zytglogge", also built in the 13th Century.

The medieval tower which houses the "Zytglogge" has served the city as guard tower, prison, clock tower, centre of urban life and civic memorial.

Further down the "Marktgasse" where a fountain stands outside another medieval tower.

The "Swiss National Bank" sits in the same square as the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Fountains outside the "Federal Palace of Switzerland".

Bern Video:

View from the top of the "Münster"