THE CITY OF BERN

A visit to Bern is always a wonderful experience. Most people identify the city with its River Aare and of course the Clock Tower in the center of town. People who haven’t been to Bern for some time, however, might not know that its famous bears now enjoy a new bear-friendly home at Bear Park along the banks of the Aare River. Also, in 2005 the Zentrum Paul Klee museum was built to highlight and feature many of Paul Klee’s works. This Bernese expressionist painter is considered one of the most inventive artists of the 20th Century. For all kinds of great information about Bern, we recommend that you visit the Bern Tourism web site.

The best way to see & get to know a city and its people is to walk down its streets, its avenues, and look where “locals” hang out. For a Bernese returning to his hometown, a stroll down its main drag is a must. He’d call it “löubele”. This incredibly beautiful medieval city built in the 1500s with its cobblestoned streets & shopping arcades which protect you from the weather and keep you cool in the summer are ideal for exploring the city. As kids we had to learn the names of the streets connecting the various gate towers such as the Käfigturm which was originally built as a prison & the Zytglogge which was built in 1530. And of course…we had to be able to identify the many fountains along the way. I was always fascinated by the Kindlifresserbrunnen (the Ogre Fountain). A visit to Bern in Summer would not be complete without a swim in the Aare river. For a unique experience jump in the water at the river beach in Eichholz and let the Aare’s swift current carry you along all the way to Marzilibad at the foot of the House of Parliament. The #9 Streetcar can take you to Wabern. From there it’s a short ten minute walk to Eichholz Park. Uf widerluege.

                               Check out the websites & the Video by clicking on the highlighted links above.