Bern Switzerland As the nation’s capital, Bern, Switzerland is home to the Swiss parliament. It is here that final federal authority is being wielded every day. And yet, despite its high political status and its reputation for once being Europe’s most floral city, Bern, Switzerland manages to retain its easy approach to life, reminiscent of small towns. Thinking about it, it comes as no surprise that Bern, Switzerland should retain that small town charm. The city itself is tiny, with barely 130,000 people. Traffic is relatively lighter than what one would expect from a capital city, and most of them are kept out of the Old Town so you could spend your days wandering the perfectly preserved medieval streets and alleys with its arcades, fountains and towers and feel like you have gone back in time. This is the reason why UNESCO deemed Bern, Switzerland a World Heritage Site, ranking it among such legendary places as Petra, Florence, and the Taj Mahal in India. So what fun things does Bern, Switzerland have in store for you? Read on. Bear Pits and Park According to legend, Bern, Switzerland got its name from an incident where Bern’s founder, Berchtold V von Zahringen, killed a bear on the Aare peninsula, "bar" being the German word for "bear." At any rate, the Bear Pits, as its name suggests, is a natural habitat for bears. It was first established in 1857 and since then has never changed locations. Today, the Bear Pits is home to three Pyrenean brown bears, named Urs, Pedro and Tana. You can view them every day from 9:30 to 17:00 hours in the summer time and 9:30 to 16:30 hours in the winter. In April 2003, the Bear Pits was turned into a park, complete with enclosures that will allow the bears to fish and swim in the waters of Aare River. Botanical Gardens Located right in the center of Berne, Switzerland, the Botanical Gardens cover an entire area comprising of 2 hectares. Here, you will find around 6,000 different plant species and sub-species, either growing outdoors or housed inside any of the seven greenhouses. You can gain insight into the Swiss flora by visiting this attraction in Bern, Switzerland. In addition to learning about the endangered species, the Botanical Gardens also have a selection of alpine plants and plants from North America and Asia. Fountains Bern, Switzerland has over 100 fountains, and this perhaps is the reason why it is sometimes nicknamed as the "city of fountains." The fountains are landmarks to the fascinating history of Bern, as well as a reflection of the wealth of its people dating back to the 16th century. Of the more than a hundred fountains in Bern, Switzerland, 11 of them still feature the original statues, including Gerechtigkeit (Justice), Chindlifresser (Ogre), and Zahringen. A charming, steep-sided isthmus with the swift flowing River Aare, Bern the capital of Switzerland, attracts tourists with its calm, cobbled lanes, streaked with sandstone arcaded structures spanning the pavement. This beautiful and diverse capital of Switzerland is a medieval city established in 1191 and in over five hundred years has barely changed except for the embellishment of modern shops and unusual car or tram clattering past. The capital of Switzerland, Bern, still has liberally wooded hills and steep river banks that surround it. The sight of both the Old Town’s huddled roofs and that of the horizon’s imposing Alps, are definitely awe-inspiring. Coming from Geneva or Zurich, people tend to forget that Bern, once chosen as the most floral city of Europe, is the capital of Switzerland, and abode of the Swiss Parliament as well as wielder of ultimate federal authority. Contrary to its high political status, Bern is a small city of about one-hundred-thirty-thousand populace, preserving a little town’s simple approach to life. The place’s main appeal is its ambiance; the Old Town keeps traffic out and one could spend days simply wandering the alleys and street, or hopping through the cafés, or if the weather is warm, taking a river plunge with the locals. The ideally conserved medieval street arrangement, with its indomitable towers, arcades, and street fountains, convinced UNESCO to consider Bern as a World heritage Site, inserting it in the band of legendary sites as Petra, Taj Mahal, and Florence. Bern, the capital of Switzerland is one of the most extraordinary exemplars of Europe’s medieval town architecture. Presiding on top of the city is the splendid dome of the Parliament house. Moving a few steps from the major station and Aare River, is the Prison Tower along with all of the other Bern places of interest. In most occasions, the House of Parliament opens its doors to visitors and the public to watch live parliament proceedings. One of the longest Europe shopping promenades, the entire line of houses and shops come together into an integrated whole, each connected through long covered walkways called the arcades. This shopping boulevard is a pure pleasure to unhurriedly stroll along on, be it rain or shine. Bern facets so many amazing places to see, things to do, and activities to explore; the river Aare alone attracts a lot of people of different ages, especially during the summer when the refreshing and clean water of the river invites one to cool off and take the plunge. So, for those planning to visit Switzerland, don’t miss out on the wonderful experience that awaits every visitor in the capital of Switzerland, Bern.