Bern is the capital of Switzerland (though a lot of people think it is Geneva!). Berne has a very interesting story behind its name. The Duke of Zahringen, Berchtold V who founded the city named it so because he had vowed to name the city after the first animal he encountered on a hunting expedition, which turned out to be a bear. This is also probably why the bear featured in the Bern coat of arms in the 1220s.
Things to do
Bern is located on the Swiss Plateau, in what is known as the Canton of Bern. It is located in the central part of the country, more towards the west and about 12 km north of the Bernese Alps. This city is throbbing with life and there are many sights to explore.
For starters you can take the City center. It is still a largely medieval area and in fact, has been recognized by the UNESCO as one of the World's Cultural heritage sites. The most charming sight to see here is the clock tower which is a large structure with moving puppets. There is also the "Munster" which is a Gothic cathedral which was probably built in the fifteenth century.
Another grand structure is the federal palace, which is home to the parliament and the federal administrative wing. Don't miss out on the beautiful fountains which were built in front of this grand structure in 2004. One should also visit the Garden of Roses, a beautiful place, from which the scenic view of the medieval city center can be partaken.
Traveling and Accommodation
Berne is the capital of Switzerland and is consequently very well connected with all the other cities with highways - namely A6, A12 and A1. You could also land at the Airport in Geneva and take a direct train from the airport there to Bern. The same holds good for Zurich. It would take an hour to get there from Zurich. From Geneva it is a short ride away because it is just about 130 km away.
When checking out the capital of Switzerland, information is forthcoming about the places of interest around it. You could choose to visit Basel during the spring for the festival, Lausanne for its spectacular mountains or Geneva and Zurich.
Some hotels you can stay in, while at Bern are:
Hotel Allegro Bern - www.allegro-hotel.ch
Bellevue Palace - www.bellevue-palace.ch
Hotel Continental - www.hotel-continental.ch
When it comes to the Capital of Switzerland, Information is readily available on the internet, so do look it up and visit!
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