Bern

Bern or Berne, city, capital of Switzerland and also of Bern Canton in western Switzerland. It is situated on a lofty promontory surrounded on three sides by a bend of the Aare River. The old battlements of the city, now converted into promenades, command a magnificent view of the surrounding alpine scenery.

The bear is the heraldic emblem of Bern, and a bear pit, maintained since 1513, is one of the many attractions of the city. Principal public buildings are the houses of parliament; a Gothic cathedral, begun in 1421 and finished in 1611; and the town hall, dating from 1406. The University of Bern (1834) has faculties of law, medicine, philosophy, science, and theology. Bern Library, which now includes the university library, contains many manuscripts and rare books. Bern has four museums, containing, respectively, collections of Swiss art, history, natural history, and alpine subjects.

Bern is primarily an administrative and governmental city. Various international organizations, notably the Universal Postal Union, have headquarters here. Industrial activity includes the production of precision instruments, textiles, machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and chocolate. Two important annual fairs are held in Bern, and it has a large horse and cattle market.

Bern was founded in 1191 and became a free imperial city in 1218. It joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353. The so-called Disputation of Bern between Roman Catholics and Protestant Reformers in 1528 prepared the way for acceptance of the Reformed doctrine in Switzerland. The invasion of Switzerland in 1798 by the French revolutionary army overthrew the aristocratic regime, and during the 19th century the power of the Church was reduced, and the country acquired a liberal constitution. In 1885-1886, Bern hosted a conference held to formulate an international agreement on copyright. The agreement is still known as the Bern Convention. In 1983, the historic centre of Bern was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Population 122,178 (2005 estimate).