Bern

De facto capital of Switzerland, Bern is evidence of the rich legacy of the country. Tucked in the center of the Swiss Plateau, this city of almost 133,000 people (as of 2022) is unique in the political and social scene of the nation. Bern’s importance much exceeds its population, which ranks fifth among Switzerland’s urban centers—behind Zürich, Geneva, Basel, and Lausanne. With the Bern agglomeration comprising 36 municipalities and a population of 406,900 as of 2014, the city forms the center point of a greater metropolitan area. With the metropolitan area at 660,000 at the turn of the millennium, this larger urban network reaches even farther.

Being Switzerland’s “federal city” gives the city a weight that penetrates its institutions and streets. Although Bern is not formally named the capital in the Swiss constitution, this title essentially centers Bern at the core of political activity in the country. The city is essentially the seat of Swiss federal power since it houses the federal parliament, government, and diplomatic offices. This special status reflects Switzerland’s dispersed approach to government, in which power is shared among the cantons instead of concentrated in one, dominant capital.

Bern’s language scene functions as a microcosm of Switzerland’s multilingual character. Although German is the official language, Bernese German—a distinct dialect of Alemannic Swiss German—resonates in the streets and homes of Bern. This linguistic oddity distinguishes the city from other German-speaking areas of Switzerland and adds a layer of local color to its character, strengthening its cultural identity.

A crowning gem of European urban preservation is Bern’s historic old town, Altstadt, right in the middle. Originally identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this medieval core provides a living museum of architectural and cultural legacy. Sandstone buildings, their facades echoing centuries past, wind between cobblestone streets. Since the Middle Ages, the layout of the old town—with its distinctive arcades and fountains—has stayed mostly unaltered, providing both residents and visitors a physical link to the rich history of the city.

Major waterway of the Swiss Plateau, the Aare River embraces the old town in a protective loop with azure waters supporting both the city’s historical defense and modern beauty. From its medieval fortifications to contemporary leisure activities, Bern’s development and character have been much shaped by this geographical feature.

Bern as we know it now started in the late 12th century, more especially in the year 1191. Then it is thought that the medieval city was established by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen. Renowned for their activities in founding cities over what is now Switzerland and southwestern Germany, the Zähringer dynasty set the foundation for one of Switzerland’s most significant metropolitan hubs. Bern would rise from a little fortified settlement to a city of European importance thanks to this act of foundation starting a sequence of events.

A turning point in Bern’s history came in 1218 when the Holy Roman Empire declared it a free imperial city. Bern was given a great degree of autonomy by this title, which let it run its own affairs and follow its interests with more freedom. Bern’s future direction and aspirations would be much shaped by this acquired freedom.

As Bern became a member of the Swiss Confederacy, 1353 marked still another turning point in her history. Bern, one of the eight early cantons of the confederation, was instrumental in shaping and growing what would finally become modern Switzerland. This alliance not only gave security but also positioned Bern as a major actor in military operations and Swiss politics.

Bern started a route of political consolidation and territorial expansion after it was included into the Swiss Confederacy. Pursuing a bold expansion, the city-state progressively expanded its influence and authority over adjacent areas. Bern evolved from a single city into a sizable territorial state during this period of growth, among the biggest and most influential of the Swiss Confederacy.

For Bern’s urban scene, the fifteenth century signaled a fresh chapter. During this period, the city started to acquire many of the traits that define it now. Starting a thorough rebuilding project, the medieval town was transformed into a more orderly and striking urban center. Along with the development of the city’s unique system of arcades and fountains, this metamorphosis included the building of many of the sandstone buildings that today comprise the core of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bern’s historical path underwent yet another major change in 1848 when it was selected as the Federal City of the just-established Swiss Confederation. Bern’s political center of Switzerland, a post she still holds today, was cemented by this choice. Bern’s central location, political significance, and capacity to act as a neutral ground among the several cantons of Switzerland all helped to justify Bern as the federal city.

The city’s population expansion matched its increasing significance. Bern grew steadily over the centuries from a small 15th-century settlement of perhaps 5,000 people. It had exceeded the 100,000 mark by the 1920s, rising from a medieval town into a modern city while still keeping its historical core intact.