Berne
49749
225911624
2008-07-15T23:52:32Z
68.175.15.49
{{Infobox Swiss town
| subject_name = Berne
| municipality_name = Berne
| municipality_type = municipality
| imagepath_coa = Berne-coat of arms.svg|pixel_coa=
| map = Karte Gemeinde Bern.png
| image_photo = Bern luftaufnahme.png
| image_caption = Aerial view of the [[Old City of Berne]].
| languages = German
| canton = Berne
| iso-code-region = CH-BE
| district = [[Berne (district)|Berne]]
| lat_d=46|lat_m=57|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=27|long_EW=E
| postal_code = 3000
| municipality_code = 0351
| area = 51.6
| elevation = 542|elevation_description=|highest=[[Könizberg]]|highest_m=674|lowest=[[Aar]]|lowest_m=480|
| population = 128041|populationof=2007
| website = www.bern.ch
| mayor = Alexander Tschäppät|mayor_asof=2008|mayor_party=SPS
| mayor_title = Stadtpräsident|list_of_mayors = List of mayors of Berne
| places =
| demonym = Berner
| neighboring_municipalities= [[Bremgarten bei Bern]], [[Frauenkappelen]], [[Ittigen]], [[Kirchlindach]], [[Köniz]], [[Mühleberg]], [[Muri bei Bern]], [[Neuenegg]], [[Ostermundigen]], [[Wohlen bei Bern]], [[Zollikofen]]
| twintowns = [[Salzburg]] (Austria)
|}}
{{otheruses}}
The city of '''Berne''' or '''Bern''' ({{audio-de|Bern|De-Bern.ogg}} {{IPA|[b̥ɛrn]}}, {{lang-fr|Berne}} {{IPA|[bɛʀn]}}, {{lang-it|Berna}} {{IPA|[ˈbɛrna]}}, [[Romansh language|Romansh]]: ''Berna'' {{IPA|[ˈbɛrnə]}}, [[Bernese German]]: ''Bärn'' {{IPA|[b̥æːrn]}}), is the ''Bundesstadt'' ([[federal city]], ''de facto'' [[capital]]) of [[Switzerland]] and, with 128,041 people (agglomeration: 344,000), the fifth most populous city in Switzerland (after [[Zürich]], [[Geneva]], [[Basel]] and [[Lausanne]]).
Most of Berne's residents speak [[German language|German]], or more specifically, [[Bernese German]], which is a [[Alemannic German|high-Alemannic dialect]]. Very few people still speak the [[Matteänglisch]] {{Fact|date=May 2008}}, a [[language game]] used in the former workers' quarter of ''Matte'', but several words have found their way into Bernese German.
Berne also functions as the capital of the [[Canton of Berne]], the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons.
Illustrious Bernese include the [[reformer]] [[Albrecht von Haller]], the poet [[Albert Bitzius]] and the painters [[Hans Fries (painter)|Hans Fries]], [[Ferdinand Hodler]] and [[Paul Klee]]. The German-born physicist [[Albert Einstein]] worked out his [[theory of relativity]] while employed as a [[patent examiner|clerk]] at the Berne patent office.
A culturally important person was [[Mani Matter]], a songwriter performing in [[Bernese German]].
==History==
{{main|History of Berne}}
[[Image:CH Bern Aare pano.jpg|thumb|left|Aare river in Berne. Background shows the high incline of the riverbank.]]
[[Image:Zytglogge 01.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The [[Zytglogge]] clock tower is one of the city's best-known symbols.]]
[[Duke]] [[Berchtold V of Zähringen]] founded the city on the River [[Aar]]e 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, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir. In 1353 Berne 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 [[France|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 Berne 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 Berne up to the 19th century.
A number of congresses of the [[socialist]] [[First International|First]] and [[Second International]]s were held in Berne, particularly during [[World War I]] when Switzerland was neutral. (See [[Berne International]].)
==Geography==
[[Image:MerianBern.jpg|thumb|right|Bern in 1638]]
Berne lies in the [[Swiss plateau]] part of the [[Canton of Berne]], somewhat west of the center of Switzerland and 20 km north of the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]]. The landscape around Berne was formed by glaciers in the last [[ice age]]. The two mountains closest to Berne are the Gurten with a height of 858 meters and the Bantiger with a height of 947 meters. The site of the old observatory in Berne is the origin (600 000/200 000) of the [[Swiss coordinate system|CH1903 coordinate system]], its international coordinates are {{coor dms|46|57|08.66|N|7|26|22.50|E|region:CH_type:landmark}}.
The city was originally built on a mountain engulfed by the river [[Aar]] but outgrew the natural boundaries of the river in the 19th century. The following bridges were built to allow the city to grow outside of the boundaries imposed by the river:
* 1844 [[Nydeggbrücke]] (at the bottom, i.e. the East-End)
* 1883 [[Kirchenfeldbrücke]] (at the South-side)
* 1898 [[Kornhausbrücke]] (at the North-side)
The city is built on very uneven ground. There are several dozens of meters in height difference from the quarters down at the Aar (e.g. Matte, Marzili) to the higher ones (e.g. Kirchenfeld, Länggasse).
[[Image:Bern-BerchtoldVZahring.JPG|thumb|Berchtold V on the ''Zähringer fountain'' in Bern]]
==Politics==
Berne 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 of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party]] and of the three [[Green Party of Switzerland|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 [[List of political parties in Switzerland|political parties]] of Berne are the [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|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 Berne is [[Alexander Tschäppät]] of the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democrats]].
{{see also|List of mayors of Berne}}
{{wide image|Bern panorama vom muenster.jpg|1000px|View of the city.}}
==Main sights==
[[Image:05-10-09 BernCoveredSidewalks.jpg|thumb|right|One of the ''Lauben'', the city's medieval covered shopping promenades.]]
Berne's [[Old City of Berne|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]]'', an elaborate medieval clock tower with moving puppets. It also has an impressive 15th century [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[cathedral of Berne|cathedral]], the ''[[Münster (Berne)|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. The Federal Palace (''[[Bundeshaus]]''), dating from 1902, which houses the [[Swiss Federal Assembly|national parliament]] and part of the federal administration, can also be visited.
[[Image:Einsteinhausberne.jpg|thumb|Living room at the Einsteinhaus.]] [[Einstein]] lived in an apartment at the [[Kramgasse]] 49, the site of the [http://www.einstein-bern.ch Einsteinhaus], from 1903 to 1905, the year in which the [[Annus Mirabilis Papers]] were published.
The Garden of [[Rose]]s (''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.
Berne's most recent sight is the set of fountains in front of the Federal Palace. It was inaugurated on [[August 1]], [[2004]].
Berne features many [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage sites of national significance]].<ref>[[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance]] (1995), p. 103–105.</ref> Apart from the entire [[Old Town of Berne|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 [[Swissmint|Federal Mint]] building, the [[Swiss Federal Archives|Federal Archives]], the [[Swiss National Library]], the [[Historical Museum of Bern|Historical Museum]] (1894), [[Alpine Museum of Berne|Alpine Museum]], [[Museum of Communication, Berne|Museum of Communication]] and [[Natural History Museum of Berne|Natural History Museum]].
Berne features numerous museums including:
* Museum of Arts
* Art-Hall
* Psychiatry Museum
* Historic Museum
* Natural History Museum
* Alpine Museum
* Einstein House
* Marksmen Museum
==Culture==
Berne is rich of cultural offerings for every taste.
===Theaters===
* [[Berne Theatre]][http://www.stadttheaterbern.ch/]
* Schlachthaus-theater [http://www.schlachthaus.ch/]
* [[Tojo Theater]] [http://www.reithalle.ch/reitschule/tojo/index.shtml]
* The Theater on the Effinger-Street [http://www.dastheater-effingerstr.ch/]
* Narrenpack Theater Bern [http://www.narrenpack.ch/]
===Movie theaters===
Berne has several dozens of movie theaters. As is customary in Switzerland, movies are generally shown in their original language (e.g., [[English language|English]]) with subtitling in [[German language|German]] and [[French language|French]]. Only a small number of screenings are dubbed in German. Program information is available through e.g. the [http://www.cineman.ch Cineman] website.
*[[Queersicht]] - Queer Filmfestival, annually held second week of November.
===Festivals===
* [[Gurtenfestival]] [http://www.gurtenfestival.ch]
*[[BeJazz]] Summer and Winter Festival
* Berner Tanztage
* Internationales Jazzfestival Bern
* Taktlos-Festival
* [[Queersicht]] - Queer Filmfestival, annually held second week of November.
* [[Busking|Buskers]] festival
===Fairs===
*[[Zibelemärit]] - The Zibelemärit (onion market) is an annual fair held on the fourth Monday in November.
==Sport==
[[Image:Tatze-derby.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Stade de Suisse]]
The football team [[BSC Young Boys]] is based in Berne at the [[Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf|Stade de Suisse Wankdorf]], which also is one of the venues for the [[UEFA Euro 2008|European football championship]].
[[SC Bern]] is the major ice hockey team of Berne who plays at the [[PostFinance Arena]].
==Education==
Berne has a [[University of Berne|University]], a University of Applied Science and several vocational schools.
The [[University of Berne]] is spread over several buildings which are mainly located in the ''Länggasse'' quarter.
The University of Applied Science (''Fachhochschule'') is also located in Berne.
==Transport==
Berne is well connected to other cities by several [[Autobahns of Switzerland|highways]] ([[A1 (Switzerland)|A1]], A12, A6).
Public transport works well in Bern, with [[tram]] 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 [[Marzilibahn|funicular]] is, with a length of 106 m, the shortest public railway in Europe {{Fact|date=December 2007}}. [[List of Aar bridges in Berne|Several Aar bridges]] connect the old parts of the city with the newer quarters outside of the peninsula.
Berne is served by [[Berne 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.
==Miscellaneous==
*The [[Universal Postal Union]] is situated in Bern.
*Berne (as "Bern") was featured as one of the scenarios in the original ''[[SimCity]]'' video game
*Well-known [[anarchist]] [[Mikhail Bakunin]] died in Berne in 1876.
*The city of [[New Bern, North Carolina]] in the [[USA]] is named after Berne, having been founded in 1710 by [[Christoph von Graffenried]], a minor Swiss noble from Berne who attempted to set up Swiss settlement in the [[New World]].
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.bern.ch City of Bern]
*{{HDS|209|Bern (Gemeinde)}}
*[http://www.geobern.ch/TBInternet/default.aspx?Show=Bern&Lang=en GIS City of Berne]
*{{wikitravel}}
*[http://www.bernmobil.ch Berne Public Transportation Website (BernMobil)]
*[http://www.cityhunter.ch CityHunter Bern]
{{Old City of Berne}}
{{Municipalities of the district of Berne}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Switzerland}}
{{Cantonal capitals of Switzerland}}
{{European capitals}}
[[Category:1191 establishments]]
[[Category:Berne| ]]
[[Category:Canton of Berne]]
[[Category:Cantonal capitals of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Berne]]
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