Capital City of Switzerland

The Story of the Bear-Pit in Berne

According to the legend. the Duke Berchtold von Zähringen, founder

of the city of Berne, wanted to name the city after the first animal

he had hunted and killed on the spot where he wished to build the city.

Apparently it was a bear, and thus the city received it,s name.

The first known city seal from the year 1224 already had a bear as it,s emblem,

and the city`s coat of arms and flag have always had a bear climbing up a

golden road with a red background on it. The first sure sign that a bear-pit

existed in Berne has been handed down to us from the year 1441. It was a

notice which was accidentally found in which the city council ordered several

sacks of acorns to feed the bears. From 1513 we have a report from the

Bernese chronicler Valerius Anshelm on how the victorious Bernese

brought home a living bear along with the conquered flags on their

triumphant march home from the battle of Novara.

A shelter was built for the animal on the city moat just in front of the middle

city gate on the square that is still known as Bärenplatz, Bear Square, today.

The old bear-pit was moved several times until its final location next to the

big Nydegg Bridge was found in 1857.

Here 12 or more bears receive loving care in a 12-meter wide and 3.5-meter

deep fortified pit.

The bears`diet is purely vegetarian.

They receive 2 kilos of bread and 2 to 3 kilos of carrots daily on the average.

Occasionally they get milk and fruit.

They love getting biscuits, nuts and carrots that spectators throw down to

them and show their thanks with amusing begging scenes and acrobatic

acts.