Bern: Cities, Lakes & Cheese – Bern – Citizenship Test
Beyond Bern's majestic mountains lie charming cities, crystal-clear lakes, and world-famous cheese. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz shimmer with distinctive turquoise colors, framing the town of Interlaken …
Beyond Bern's majestic mountains lie charming cities, crystal-clear lakes, and world-famous cheese. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz shimmer with distinctive turquoise colors, framing the town of Interlaken which lies literally "between the lakes." The medieval old town of Bern boasts over 6 kilometers of arcades - a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can shop even in the rain. And of course, there's the Emmental region, home to the iconic cheese with holes that the world knows as "Swiss cheese." Let's explore the cities, waters, and flavors that make Bern so special.
Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and Interlaken
Two Beautiful Lakes:
Lake Thun:
- Area: 48 km²
- Maximum depth: 217 m
- Fed by the Aare River from Lake Brienz
- Towns: Thun (castle), Spiez, Interlaken
- Popular for sailing, swimming, and steamboat trips
- Breathtaking mountain backdrop
Lake Brienz:
- Area: 30 km²
- Maximum depth: 260 m (deeper than Thun!)
- Distinctive turquoise color (glacial meltwater)
- Steeper shores, more dramatic than Lake Thun
- Giessbach Falls on the northern shore
Interlaken:
- The town literally lies "between the lakes" (Interlaken)
- Important tourism center
- Gateway to the Jungfrau region
- Capital of adventure sports (paragliding, skydiving)
- Höhematte meadow in the city center
- Railway hub to mountain destinations
Bern Old Town - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Medieval Old Town:
UNESCO Recognition:
- The Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983
- Exceptionally well-preserved medieval city
- Plan from the 12th century still visible
- Over 6 km of arcades (Lauben)
Important Landmarks:
Zytglogge (Clock Tower):
- Medieval clock tower built around 1218-1220
- Astronomical clock from 1530
- Hourly performance with mechanical figures
- Bern's most photographed landmark
Bern Cathedral (Münster):
- Tallest church in Switzerland (100.6 m tower)
- Gothic architecture
- Famous Last Judgment portal
- Climb 344 steps for city views
Fountains:
- Over 100 ornate fountains in the Old Town
- Many from the 16th century
- Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child Eater Fountain) - famous and somewhat creepy!
The Arcades:
- One of the longest covered shopping streets in Europe
- Shop even in the rain!
Emmental and the Famous Cheese
The Emmental Region:
Geographical Features:
- Valley of the Emme River (tributary of the Aare)
- Northeast of Bern
- Gentle green hills and traditional farms
- Classic Swiss landscape with rolling pastures
Emmental Cheese:
- Emmental cheese - the cheese with holes!
- Known worldwide as "Swiss cheese"
- Produced here for centuries using traditional methods
- Large cheese wheels with characteristic holes
- Cheese-making demonstrations at the Emmental Show Dairy
Culture and Traditions:
- Traditional Bernese dialect (Berndeutsch) spoken here
- Folk music and yodeling traditions
- Preserved rural way of life
- Agritourism popular - visitors can experience farm life
Other Important Cities:
- Burgdorf: Medieval town with an impressive castle
- Langenthal: Industrial center
- The region represents traditional Swiss rural culture at its finest
The Kindlifresserbrunnen (Child Eater Fountain) in Bern's old town is one of the most unusual fountains in Switzerland! Built in 1545, it shows a giant eating a child - a rather scary figure meant to warn children to behave. The fountain's exact meaning is debated, but it's certainly memorable. It's one of over 100 ornate fountains that once provided drinking water for the city!