Photographing the bears is such a joy to me!! If it weren't raining, I would have spent a longer time.
Couldn't find one place in Switzerland where it wasn't raining. So, I decided to go to Bern because they have arcades you can walk under to keep dry.
The origin of Bern
"Duke Berthold V of Zahringen could not find a suitable name for his small town of honest citizens until one fateful day…
Numerous legends have been told about the naming of the city of Bern, and the bear is always the central figure around which the legends, myths and stories of the city’s foundations revolve. The most famous story dates back to the year 1191, when the city was founded by Duke Berthold V of Zähringen.
The new settlement was built on a strategic peninsula surrounded by the river Aare. As soon as the fortifications were complete, the Duke sought a suitable name for it. Despite his refined political skills, his imagination was not his strongest attribute and so he decided to organize a great feast in his castle Nydeck, where he invited all the regional nobles to collect ideas and find a suitable name for the city. Although the feast was full of merriment and lasted for three days, the name of the city was still not decided. Suddenly, one of the guests had the clever idea to send a hunting party into the surrounding oak forest and to give the city the name of the first animal killed.
This proposal was welcomed by everyone, and on the following day they set off early in the morning with horses and hounds, splitting into several small groups. Barely an hour later, a mighty cry of victory was heard from the forest, and when the hunters convened, it was found that one of the Duke’s archers had killed a deer. Berthold seemed to be very disappointed by this, since he did not want to give the name of such a delicate creature to his strong fortress town. The shot was declared invalid, and the hunters went on to find another, more appropriate animal. Imagine their great enthusiasm, when later that day they finally came upon a huge bear, with sharp claws and glistening fangs. It reared up upon its hind legs and let out a fierce roar as the Duke himself charged the beast and slew it with his sword. Henceforth, the young city was named Bern and the bear became the heraldic animal for both the city and the canton of Bern.
The bear became so beloved that since 1513, the city has even had a “Bärengraben”, or “bear-moat” which, with its fierce four-legged inhabitants, has become one of the most famous landmarks of Bern."
"The Swiss National Bank has the mandate to conduct monetary policy in such a way that money preserves its value and the Swiss economy develops in an appropriate manner."
"The Swiss National Bank is tasked with ensuring price stability, while taking due account of economic developments. The SNB’s monetary policy strategy consists of three elements: a definition of price stability, a medium-term inflation forecast and the SNB policy rate.The Swiss National Bank implements its monetary policy by setting the SNB policy rate. In so doing, it seeks to keep the short-term Swiss franc money market rates close to the SNB policy rate. Both the regular and the other monetary policy instruments are described in the 'Guidelines of the Swiss National Bank on monetary policy instruments."
Someone once told me all the bank vaults are under the plaza.
The Parliament Building is next to the Swiss National Bank which is on Bundesplatz.
Bücherer are Swiss watch & fine jewelry experts since 1888.
"Vibrant colors and outstanding materialization shape the watch trends for 2024. From the introduction of pink to the timeless shades of green and brown dials, each hue tells its story of elegance. Independent watchmakers challenge conventions, while gold watches embody enduring luxury. Titanium remains equally popular as last year and is highly appreciated for its durability and comfort."
"Vibrant pink dials have emerged as a favored trend for 2024, representing an evolution from the salmon dials that graced many releases last year. This striking shade adds a lively dimension to men's and women's watch collections, reflecting the trend towards more expressive and daring timepieces. Pink is reinterpreted in contemporary watch design, offering a fresh and vibrant approach to modern wrist wear."
"Chocolate Bark is the easiest 5-ingredient snack you'll ever whip up. All you need are 5 simple (and completely customizable!) ingredients – chocolate, pepitas, dried cherries, coconut flakes, and any type of nuts."
"Why is some chocolate called bark?
Once the chocolate has cooled, it's then cut up or broken into smaller pieces. It's easy to see, then, why the most commonly accepted origin of chocolate "bark" comes from the fact that the treat, when finished, resembles the craggy surface of a tree."
The Bern bear pit is an attraction that is known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. Since 2009, the Bern bears have primarily had a modern, 6,000 square meter park at their disposal, which they reach through a tunnel - the BärenPark.
"Since 1513 bears have been at home in Bern; until 1857 in the town itself, then in the bear pit, and since 2009 in the new and spacious Bärenpark."
"The site on the banks of the Aare stretches from the former bear pit opposite the Old Town to the river. Thanks to a lift, the entire facility is now wheelchair-friendly. The “Bear Pit”, which still exists and has been listed as a federal cultural asset of national significance, remains at the bears' disposal.
"The first records of bears being kept in the city come from 1513, when the chronicler Valerius Anshelm described how the Bernese returned home victorious from the Battle of Novara, carrying both the captured standards and a living bear as spoils of war."
"The first bear pit was at what is still called the Bärenplatz (Bear Plaza). The current pit is the fourth such enclosure, following on from pits at various locations around the city, and was first opened in 1857. In 1925, a smaller adjacent pit was added to raise the young bear cubs."
"Between 1994 and 1996, the Bärengraben was completely renovated to improve conditions for the bears. Despite this, the keeping of bears in what still remained a bear pit led to many complaints. This, as well as new legal requirements, prompted a rethink of how the bears should be kept."
"As a result, the BärenPark was opened in 2009, on the steeply sloping land between the Bärengraben and the bank of the River Aare. The original bear pit and the BärenPark were linked by a tunnel, allowing the bears to make use of both spaces. The smaller pit was no longer used by the bears, but was used instead to give access to the Bärengraben's shop and to provide a performance space."
"The Mary Plain series of fourteen children's books are partly set at the Bärengraben, with the story's main character, Mary Plain (who is a young bear) and her family living in the pits."
"The Bärengraben can be briefly seen in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service, as Bond, Tracy Bond and Marc-Ange Draco drive through Bern."
"Confederate prison commander Henry Wirz remembers a childhood visit to "that ancient pit in Switzerland" in Chapter XX of MacKinlay Kantor's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Andersonville" (1955)."
New benches built by the bear park.
Some of the fountains around Bern have bears or babies.
Pfeiferbrunnen Fountain
"The Pfeiferbrunnen was built in 1545–46 by the Swiss Renaissance sculptor Hans Gieng based on the 1514 Albrecht Dürer woodcut of the Bagpiper. Originally, it stood in front of the Gasthaus (hotel and restaurant) zum Kreuz, which was a hotel for traveling minstrels. In 1594, the building was renamed to Gasthof zum Storchen. Which led to the alternate name for the Pfeiferbrunnen, the Storchenbrunnen. This alternative name was popular until the end of the 19th century. During the renovation of 1874, an inscription was placed on the back of the statue, and the figures on the pillar were damaged. The current basin was built in 1889. Then, in 1919 the fountain was moved to the east from its original spot between Ryffli- and Storchengässchen, to its current location in front of Spitalgasse 21
This is my favorite fountain in Bern, the Kindlifresserbrunnen
" Kindlifresserbrunnen, ("Child-Eater Fountain") is a painted stone fountain at the Kornhausplatz (Granary Place). It is a fountain from the 16th century.
"It was created in 1545–1546 by Hans Gieng to replace a wooden fountain from the 15th century. The new fountain's original name was Platzbrunnen (Plaza Fountain); the current name was used first in 1666. Kindli is a Swiss German diminutive for the German word Kind, meaning child. A literal translation of the name Kindlifresserbrunnen therefore would be "Fountain of the Eater of Little Children".
"The fountain sculpture depicts a seated ogre devouring a naked child. Placed at his side is a bag containing more children. Because the ogre is wearing a pointed hat resembling a Jewish one, it has been speculated about the possibility of the ogre being the depiction of a Jew as an expression of blood libel against Jews. Another theory is that the statue is the likeness of Krampus, the beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries thought to punish children during the Christmas season who had misbehaved. According to other theories it is a depiction of the Greek god Cronus eating his children or the Roman Saturn eating the months, though Cronus should have six and Saturn twelve rather than the sculpture's eight."
"Another theory is that it represented Cardinal Schiner who led the Swiss Confederation into several bloody defeats in Northern Italy. An alternative theory is that it is a depiction of the older brother of Duke Berchtold (founder of Bern) who it is claimed, was so incensed by his younger brother's overshadowing of him that he collected and ate the town's children. Such an incident is not recorded in Bern's history books. A final theory is that it is just a carnival character intended to frighten disobedient children."
"Another theory is the eight children depict the eight cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy and the Ogre is an enemy (possibly Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy) trying to gobble the cantons up. This would match with the fountain's base which shows a frieze of armed bears going to war, including a piper and a drummer. The frieze may have been designed by Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch.
Which theory is your favorite? I think if the children don't behave, then the ogre will cobble them up is my favorite.
The Zähringerbrunnen was built in 1535 as a memorial to the founder of Bern, Berchtold von Zähringer. The statue is a bear in full armor, with another bear cub at his feet. The bear represents the bear that, according to legend, Berchtold shot on the Aare peninsula as he was searching for a site to build a city. The armored bear carries a shield and a banner, both emblazoned with the Zähringen lion.
The basin below the fountain bore the date 1542 until 1889 when the entire basin was replaced. At the same time the column and figure were repainted. The old basin was octagonal. On one face it had the inscription Protege Nos Domine and on another Soli Deo Gloria. Another face had the date 1542 in Roman numerals and the fourth had an inscription that was unreadable in the 19th century. The current basin is an exact replica of the Pfeiferbrunnen's basin.
There are so many bakeries and chocolate shops in Bern.
Sacher torte is a chocolate cake, or torte, of Austrian origin, invented by Franz Sacher, supposedly in 1832 for Prince Metternich in Vienna. This is the Bern version.
Blossoms found at open markets, little corner shops....
When in Bern, one must stop and see the Bern Münster.
Built in the Gothic style, its construction started in 1421. Its tower, with a height of 100.6 m (330 ft), was only completed in 1893. It is the tallest cathedral in Switzerland and is a Cultural Property of National Significance.
The Münster of Bern is located on the southern side of the Aare peninsula. The cathedral is oriented east and west like the rest of the Old City of Bern. To the north, Münstergasse runs along the side of the building. The west façade of the Münster dominates Münsterplatz. On the south side of the cathedral is the Münsterplattform.
"It is a three nave basilica without a transept. The entire cathedral is 84.2 meters (276 ft) long and 33.68 m (110.5 ft) wide. The central nave is 39.37 m (129.2 ft) long by 11.10 m (36.4 ft) wide and is 20.70 m (67.9 ft) high. The two side naves are very similar in dimensions, the north nave is 52.50 m (172.2 ft) long, while the southern one is slightly longer at 52.72 m (173.0 ft). They are both 6.45 m (21.2 ft) wide and 10.40 m (34.1 ft) high. The altar house and choir together are 25.20 m (82.7 ft) long, 10.92 m (35.8 ft) wide and 19.40 m (63.6 ft) high. The cathedral has a single tower in the west, which is 100.60 m (330.1 ft) high. Below the tower, there is a 10.15 m (33.3 ft) long by 10.46 m (34.3 ft) wide, tower hall."
"There are a total of ten bays in the building. The central nave has five of these bays. Each of the side naves has two bays, with side chapels built against the exterior walls. The last bay is within the choir.
The central nave walls are supported by fourteen flying buttresses. Each buttress starts at a decorated column which rises above the roof of the side naves and side chapels. The buttresses rise at an angle of 43° 30’. The lower side of the buttresses are decorated with egg-shaped cut outs, with vesica piscis and spandrel designs.
The Last Judgement
"Over the main portal is one of the most complete Late Gothic sculpture collections in Europe. This collection represents the Christian belief in a Last Judgment where the wicked will be separated from the righteous. This sculpture shows the wicked naked on the right, while the righteous stand clothed in white on the left. In the center is Justice, with Saints and the wise and foolish virgins around her. In the center stands Michael the Archangel with a raised sword."
"The sculptures of the Last Judgement were the only statues in the Minster to survive the iconoclasm of the Protestant Reformation. The 47 large free-standing statues are replicas (the originals are in Bern History Museum), and the 170 smaller figures are all original. The Last Judgement was the work of one sculptor, Erhard Küng from Stadtlohn, Westphalia, which gives the collection a unity of design. The Justice sculpture is the only one that was done by another artist. It is signed by Daniel Heintz, who was the master builder after 1571. The rest of the statues were carved some time between 1460 and 1501, most likely between 1460 and 1480."
"The first organ in the cathedral was built nearly 200 years after construction was completed. The first great organ was built in 1726–30. The town council voted to have the organ built on 5 June 1726. They hired Gottlieb Leuw from Bremgarten in September 1726. By January 1730 his work was nearly finished and the town began searching for an organist. While the main organ was finished in 1730, the ornamentation and finish work continued until 1736. This first organ had 38 organ stops, with a breast and back work as well as an echo work with pedals."
"In 1746, the council decided that the organ needed to be rebuilt. On September 16, 1748, they reached an agreement with Victor Ferdinard Bossart to do so. On June 1, 1752, they signed a contract with Johann August Nahl to do the exterior decoration on the new organ. The rebuilt organ had 43 organ stops, and was built in a late-baroque style. It was renovated in 1827."
"When the new organ balcony and screen were built in 1845–48 above the western entrance by Beat Rudolf von Sinner, the organ was completely rebuilt and was known as the second organ. The organ builder Friedrich Haas from Winterthur increased the number of stops to 55. The number of consoles was changed to three."
"The third organ was built in 1903–04 by Friedrich Groll from Luzern. While the exterior remained virtually untouched, the interior was rebuilt. Pneumatic tubes, slider chests and a mechanical action were added to the organ. However, the sound produced by this new organ was unpleasant. The interior of the organ was completely rebuilt in 1930.
"The 1930 organ is the current one in the cathedral. It was restored in 1998–1999. The organ is currently used for a series of concerts throughout the year."
The main organ was covered because of the construction work being done in the interior.
I lit candles and wrote prayer intentions in this area.
The Zytglogge is a landmark medieval tower. Built in the early 13th century, it has served the city as a guard tower, prison, clock tower, center of urban life and civic memorial. Despite the many renovations it has undergone in its 800 years of existence, the Zytglogge is one of Bern's most recognizable symbols and the oldest monument of the city, and with its 15th-century astronomical clock, a major tourist attraction.
"The dial of the Zytglogge's astronomical clock is built in the form of an astrolabe. It is backed by a stereographically projected planisphere divided into three zones: the black night sky, the deep blue zone of dawn and the light blue day sky. The skies are crisscrossed with the golden lines of the horizon, dawn, the tropics and the temporal hours, which divide the time of daylight into twelve hours whose length varies with the time of year."
"Around the planisphere moves the rete, a web-like metal cutout representing the zodiac, which also features a Julian calendar dial. Above the rete, a display indicates the day of the week. Because leap days are not supported by the clockwork, the calendar hand has to be reset manually each leap year on the 29th of February. A moon dial circles the inner ring of the zodiac, displaying the moon phase. The principal hand of the clock indicates the time of day on the outer ring of 24 golden Roman numerals, which run twice from I to XII. It features two suns, the smaller one indicating the date on the rete's calendar dial. The larger one circles the zodiac at one revolution per year and also rotates across the planisphere once per day. Its crossing of the horizon and dawn lines twice per day allows the timing of sunrise, dawn, dusk and sunset."
"The painted frieze above the astronomical clock shows five deities from classical antiquity, each representing both a day of the week and a planet in their order according to Ptolemaic cosmology. From left to right, they are: Saturn with sickle and club for Saturday, Jupiter with thunderbolts for Thursday, Mars with sword and shield for Tuesday, Venus with Cupid for Friday and Mercury with staff and bag for Wednesday."
The tire hit the traffic blocker; so this man had to help guide the bus.
The meeting point is right by the train schedule board. The train station is always a busy place.
Another day comes to a close.
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