Bern Strolling Guide

🌟Origin of the name Bern In 1191, the Duke of Zähringen, who ruled central Switzerland, chose the highlands of Bern, which had no name at the time, as the location for his castle fortress, and decided on a whim to name the place after the first game he hunted in the forest. As a result, a bear was caught and Bern became known as the "City of Bears" (Bern is derived from the German word for "bear," Bären). Therefore, walking on the streets of Bern, you can see the coat of arms and flags with bear patterns everywhere. ❤Bern's feature: the old town with arcades This ancient city, composed of colorful fountains, sandstone buildings, and cobblestone streets, is protected by a 6-kilometer-long arcade (locally known as "Lauben") and has become the longest covered shopping and walking arcade in Europe. Whether it's sunny or rainy, this authentic medieval city is a perfect place for leisurely strolls. 🌟Main attractions: Strolling in Bern, there is really no need to deliberately search for any scenic spots. The city's three landmarks - the Clock Tower (Zeitglockenturm), the Cathedral (Münster Bern), and the Federal Palace (Bundeshaus) are so eye-catching that it's hard to imagine anyone could ignore them. The exquisite clock tower is located next to the old city gate on the grocery street. If you come before the hour, you can watch the finely carved bears, roosters, and Father Time take turns to chime with the clock. The intricately designed clock face not only tells time, but also shows the season, month, date, week, and whether the moon is full or not, if you can read it. Amidst the shops, banks, and restaurants that line the street, 49 Grocery Street is unremarkable. If it weren't for the patent office technician with disheveled hair who wrote the theory of relativity here, this ordinary house would probably go unnoticed. Back then, Einstein and his first wife Mileva rented the top three floors of this house, where they not only wrote the theory of special relativity, but also welcomed the birth of their first daughter. Now it has been converted into a memorial hall, with exhibits that try to replicate the scenes of Einstein's family life at the time. 🚉Transportation guide: Although Bern is the capital of Switzerland, there is no large international airport within its borders. In order to protect the overall style of the local medieval city from excessive modernization, most local residents rejected the resolution to build an international airport. However, transportation throughout Switzerland is very convenient, and it is easy to reach Bern by train or car. ⏳Playtime: Recommend spending a day to visit Bern.