Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Bern (city)

BERN, the chief city of the above canton, was by the decision of the Council of the Confederation, in 1848, declared to be the political capital of the Commonwealth. It is a fine, clean, well built town, on the Aar, 23 miles S. of Basel, and possesses many fine public edifices, more notably, the Cathedral, erected 1421–1502. The most remarkable feature in the town are the arcades, running in front of the houses down both sides of the two chief streets. The town has bears for its arms; and some of these animals are maintained in a large paved pit. The principal manufactures are watches, wooden clocks, and toys, linen, woolen, and silk fabrics. Pop. about 105,000. Bern was founded by Duke Berthold V. of Zahringen, in 1191, and was made a free and imperial city by a charter from the Emperor Frederick II., dated May, 1218.