We visited the Bear Pits in the centre of the old town of Bern (but couldnt get a pic with one of us in it or I guess one of them would have eaten us!) and legend has it that the founder of Bern, Berchtold V von Zähringen, killed a bear on the Aare peninsula and this led to the town being called Bern (from German "Bär") and explains why the city's coat of arms features a bear. The existing Bear Pits have been in the same location since 1857. In 1995/96 most areas of the Bear Pits underwent renovation with the aim of providing the bears with a habitat more naturally suited to them. Nowadays the Bear Pits house two Pyrenean brown bears (Pedro and Tana) ... and they are so cute they beg for food and get fed quite well.. the downside of course is there are lots of kids around...
Me .. you can almost see me at the top of the steps of The Town Hall which was built between 1406 and 1416. In its long existence it has survived the Burgundian Wars, Reformation and Revolution. To this day it is the seat of the cantonal government, where the Bernese Cantonal Council convenes five times a year.
Me on the bridge with the famous church tower in the background. This church which was built between 1270 to 1285 is now the city's oldest church and was part of the Dominican Monastery founded in 1269. From 1623the church was used by French-speaking Protestants and after 1685 it became a centre for Huguenot refugees
and me again with the Cathedral in the background...The Cathedral is the most impressive example of Late Gothic architecture in Bern. The basilica has three naves towers which indeed tower above the roofs of Bern's old town.
This Cathedral is Switzerland's largest ecclesiastical building with construction beginning in 1421 and for generations thereafter work on this masterpiece continued under a series of different builders. It took until 1893 for the spire to be completed. The portal with its depiction of the Last Judgment is an outstanding feature. The vantage point of this masterpiece is located 344 steps above the entrance in the 100-meter-high cathedral spire.
From Switzerland's highest church tower we could enjoy magnificent views across the city into the depths of the Bernese Mittelland and of the snow-capped mountains of the Bernese Oberland although of course there was no snow when we we were there.
me 'playing' Chess in the town centre...
Our next stop was Bern. Another Swiss city we hadn't planned on and this time it was absolutely gorgeous. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site which, I guess, says it all .. and another couple of hundred photos. Once again, though, it was expensive and McD's came to rescue!
And the best news of all.. the temperatures have remained 'normal' .. it is down to 18 today and rather cool but I am making the most of it 'cause it sure beats the mid 40's of the past 6 weeks in Greece!!
... and some more useless information as Bern is a UNESCO world Heritage site... as is Verona in Italy by the way....
The capital of Switzerland has many charms. Its quaint old town is framed by the Aare Riverand offers spectacular views of the Alps. With its 6 km of limestone buildings andmedieval arcades,its Renaissance fountainswith colourful figures and its beautiful cathedral surrounded by picturesque rooftops. Bern was founded in 1191 and is truly a gem of medieval architecture in Europe.
