about Bern
Bern's name comes from the word - "bear"; the animal is the official emblem of the city. It is said that the Duke who founded the city named it after his first quarry, which was of course a bear; the woods were brimming with them at the time. Bern is a lively city, which combines beautiful flora with medieval architecture and amazing shopping. A federal capital of Switzerland, Bern is also home to Toblerone chocolate and Omega watches. The beautiful Old Town of Bern is home to stately medieval architecture, although modern shopping facilities don't come as a surprise while walking along one of the longest shopping promenades in Europe. If you are after arts, don't miss the Berne Museum of Fine Arts and especially Paul Clee's Collection.