Bern, city, capital of Switzerland and also capital of Bern Canton, in western Switzerland. It is situated on a lofty promontory surrounded on three sides by a bend of the Aare River. The old battlements of the city, converted into promenades, command a magnificent view of the surrounding alpine scenery.
The bear is the heraldic emblem of Bern, and a bear pit, maintained since 1513, is one of the notable sights of the city. Principal public buildings are the houses of parliament; a Gothic cathedral, begun in 1421 and finished in 1611; and the town hall, dating from 1406. The University of Bern (1834) has departments of law, medicine, philosophy and science, and theology. Bern Library, which now includes the university library, contains many manuscripts and rare books. Bern has four museums, containing, respectively, collections of Swiss art and exhibitions dealing with history, natural history, and alpine subjects.
