Thun
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{{Infobox Swiss town
| subject_name = Thun
| municipality_name = Thun
| municipality_type = city
| imagepath_coa = Thun-coat of arms.svg
| map = Karte Gemeinde Thun.png
| languages = German
| canton = Berne
| iso-code-region = CH-BE
| district = [[Thun (district)|Thun]]
| lat_d=46|lat_m=46|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=38|long_EW=E
| postal_code = 3600-3645
| municipality_code = 0942
| area = 21.6
| elevation = 560|elevation_description=|highest_m = 1172|highest = Dürrenbergwald |lowest_m=552|lowest=[[Aar]] at Lerchenfeld
| population = 42319 |populationof = December 2007
| website = www.thun.ch
| mayor = Hans-Ulrich von Allmen |mayor_asof=2008|mayor_party=SPS
| mayor_title = Stadtpräsident|list_of_mayors =
| places =
| demonym =
| neighboring_municipalities= [[Amsoldingen]], [[Heiligenschwendi]], [[Heimberg, Switzerland|Heimberg]], [[Hilterfingen]], [[Homberg]], [[Schwendibach]], [[Spiez]], [[Steffisburg]], [[Thierachern]], [[Uetendorf]], [[Zwieselberg]]
| twintowns = [[Gabrovo]] ([[Bulgaria]])
}}
'''Thun''' ({{lang-fr|Thoune}}) is a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the district of [[Thun (district)|Thun]] in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Berne (canton)|Berne]] in [[Switzerland]] with about 42,136 inhabitants ([[1 January]] [[2006]]).
It is located where the [[River Aare]] flows out of [[Lake Thun]] (Thunersee), 30 km south of [[Bern]].
Besides [[tourism]], machine and apparatus engineering, the largest [[garrison]] of the country, the food industry and publishing are of economic importance to Thun.
==History==
The area of what is now Thun was inhabited since the [[Neolithic]] age (mid-[[3rd millennium BC]]). The name of the city derives from the [[Celtic language|Celtic]] term ''Dunum'', meaning "fortified city". It fell to [[Roman Republic|Rome]] in 58 BC, when [[Roman Army|Roman legions]] conquered almost all Switzerland, and soon became one of the main centres of Roman administration in the region.
The Romans were driven off from Thun, along with the whole of Switzerland, by the [[Burgundians]] around 400 AD. The Aare became the frontier between the Christian Burgundians and the Pagan, German-speaking [[Alemanni]], who lived north. Thun was mentioned for the first time during the 7th century, in the chronicle of [[Frankish]] monk [[Fredgar]].
The region of Thun became a part of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in 1033, when [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Empire|Conrad II]] gained the title of King of Burgundy. The emperors entrusted the [[Zähringen]] family, centred in [[Bern]], to subdue the unruly nobles of central Switzerland. Around 1190 Duke [[Bertold V of Zähringen]], built a castle in Thun and expanded the city. After Bertold's death in 1218, his territories went to Ulrich III von Kyburg.
In 1264 Thun received state rights and in 1384 the town was bought by the canton of Bern. Thun was the capital of the Oberland canton of the Helvetic Republic.
In 1819 a Military School was founded in the city, which later developed in the main military school in Switzerland. Thun was connected to the railway network of Switzerland in 1859 and telephone access made available in 1888.
[[Image:Thunersee.jpg|thumb|right|260px|View of Thun and Lake Thun from the [[Niederhorn]].]]
==Main sights==
*The Castle (twelfth century) with a history museum. This has several sections about medieval armors and weaponry and rural life.
*The Rathaus (townhall), erected in the sixteenth century
*[[Lake Thun]] and the view of the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]]
*The [[Wocher Panorama]], the oldest remaining panorama drawing in the world.
* The [[Kunstmuseum Thun]]
==Sports==
* [[Soccer]]: [[FC Thun]] plays in the [[Swiss Super League]]. Their home ground is the ''Lachen'' stadium. On [[23 August]], [[2005]] FC Thun qualified for the group stages of the [[UEFA Champions League]].
* [[Orienteering]]: Thun hosted the 1981 [[World Orienteering Championships]].
==In fiction==
An important scene in the spy novel ''[[Smiley's People]]'' by [[John le Carré]] is set here.
==Notable residents==
* [[Tanja Frieden]], Olympic gold medalist 2006 ([[Snowboard Cross]])
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:IMGP7329.jpg|View of the city
Image:Thun castle.jpg|The Castle of Schadau in an early 20th century image
Image:Thun1.jpg|View of city from main station
Image:Thun_from_lake.jpg|View of city from Lake Thun
Image:4284 - Thun - Stadtkirche, Obere Schleuse.JPG|[[Surfing]] in the [[wake]] of the Upper [[Sluice]]
</gallery>
{{clear}}
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Thun}}
* [http://www.thun.ch/ Thun.ch] {{de icon}} Official city website
* [http://www.thuntourismus.ch/ Tourist information]
* [http://www.zumzahnarzt.ch/index.php?section=livecam City livecam] with archive since 2005
{{de icon}}
{{Municipalities of the district of Thun}}
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Berne]]
[[Category:Castles in Switzerland]]
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