The Historical Museum of Bern is the right place to begin with the history of the capital of Switzerland, which was founded with a unique townscape in 1191. The compact old city centre is situated on a narrow rocky ridge, protected by a bend in the Aare river.

The late Gothic Minster Sankt Vinzenz is the largest sacred building in Switzerland. The construction of one of the most valuable late-Gothic church buildings in Northern Europe began as early as 1421.

At the top, the Nydegg bridge leads from the old town across the Aare to the opposite hill. This is where the new bear park was created, which of course every visitor to the city must have seen. The moat is home to the town's comical heraldic animals, who are more than happy here.

At Kramgasse 49, Albert Einstein worked on the theory of relativity. In his apartment, documents provide information about the life and work of the world-famous physicist.

In 1353 the meanwhile important canton joined the new Swiss Confederation. It was followed by riots and wars, but Bern survived everything and finally became the capital of Switzerland in 1848.