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Beautiful Bern With Its Blue-Green Water + Bärenpark

Back in 2010 when I was active on Tumblr, I posted the above photo with the comment that “I would like to visit here someday.” I was completely entranced by this photo – the cool, blue tones, the tiled rooftops, and the zigzagging and illuminated streets. Looks like a fairytale city, non?

This is Bern. And today, I got to day trip from Zurich and walk the streets of Switzlerland’s capital city. And it did not disappoint. Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bern is beautiful and utterly charming – and should be on everyone’s go-to list when in Switzerland.

It’s a small city so everything can be accessed by walking and just taking a stroll, you’ll come across: the River Aare, medieval bridges, cobbled streets, the Einstein Museum, Berner Münster (gothic cathedral), the famous 800 year old clock tower aka Zytglogge, any number of the 100 ancient public fountains topped with statues, and the Bärenpark or Bear Park.

The Bärenpark is a large 6,000 square metre compound that extends from the former Bärengraben (bear pit) down to the edge of the Aare River. There’s also a long, spacious pool that runs parallel to the river, where the bears can swim. For humans, there are walking paths and an inclined elevator leading down to the water, where humans can watch the bears climb, fish, rest and play.

The bear is the symbol of Bern and there are currently 3 bears living at the Bärenpark: Finn (born 2006), Bjork (born 2000), and their daughter, Ursina (born 2009).

And if you’re ever been curious about a bear’s weight, pre/post winter rest:

Finn – pre: 303kg / post: 242kg
Bjork – pre: 176kg / post: 130kg
Ursina – 186kg / post: 142kg

Bring a lunch, sit by the water, dip your toes in the river, bask in the sun, take in the view, and see the bears. I couldn’t ask for a better day trip.

I didn’t think that Bern would bowl me over so much. And I haven’t even seen everything that Bern offers during this short day trip. Bern is a definite must-visit again for me and with a night time stay, so that I could possibly see that Tumblr pic with my own eyes. Nay, next time, it’ll need to be at least a 2-3 day stay.