“This is the most beautiful place we have ever seen”, wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in a letter to his friend Charlotte von Stein during his stay in Bern in 1779. Today the Swiss capital still enchants its visitors with its charm and diverse attractions and events.

With its population of more than 140,000, Bern is Switzerland’s fifth-largest city and has all the features of a capital city. Distinguished by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, Bern’s unique image is characterized by the city’s cosmopolitan charm.

The Bernese love laid-back, hour-long shopping trips and will do so in any weather. Thanks to the longest weather-protected stretch of shopping promenade in Europe, this is in fact quite feasible. The arcades are admirably suited for a jaunty stroll among the historic city scenery.

“Drumming” (Ychüblete) and “freeing the bear” – keywords that make any real Bernese wax lyrical. It is Carnival, and with great din the “Carnival Bears” are wakened from their deep winter sleep. For three days, the capital is in the solid grip of jesters and carnival musicians.

To know that "Ämmitau" means Emmental, you need to be familiar with some of Bern’s secrets. The Emmental valley, located to the north east of the city of Bern, is a place of tradition and innovation which tempts visitors with both culinary highlights and cultural and scenic attractions.

It is well known far beyond the borders of Switzerland - the cheese with the large holes. Abroad, Emmental cheese is often simply called "Swiss cheese".

What would the city of Bern be without its beloved symbol? An unimaginable scenario, since the Bernese have a close relationship to their shaggy bears.

The Zibelemärit is a traditional folk festival which takes place on the fourth Monday every November. Farmers from the surrounding area bring more than 50 tons of onions - in artistically woven plaits - and garlic to the federal capital.

Everything your heart could ever desire – from ultra-modern shops, fashion boutiques through to exquisite specialist stores – can be found in the Swiss capital. Both principal shopping streets, Spitalgasse and Marktgasse, lie right in the heart of the Old Town.

Hans Peter Blum doesn’t need much in the way of small talk. He’s got just thirty seconds for a chat, and every second takes him one metre higher. Blum operates the elevator of the Matte district (Mattelift), a venerable lift connecting the upper city with the Matte district.

The romantic Swiss capital owes its appeal to the unity of its urban landscape created by its sandstone buildings, countless cobbled alleyways and ancient towers and turrets from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The Bernese are particularly proud of their "loveliest river pool in the world". The Marzili bath attracts countless visitors every summer. The Bernese self-consciously and enthusiastically look back to the summer of 1978, when the capital was the first Swiss city to lift the topless ban for bathers.

Bern is a great place to meet! The unique charm of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city, the stress-free atmosphere, but also its compact size make Bern an ideal setting for conventions and meetings of any kind.

The streets and alleys are aglow with the warm light escaping from living rooms. Little Christmas trees decorate the facades of the houses, adding to the romantic mood. The Old Town houses, dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, provide a fantastic and unique backdrop for the distinctive Bern Christmas Market.

Bern's medieval streets offer a unique setting for the annual Christmas Market. The two markets on the Münsterplatz (Minster Square) and Waisenhausplatz (Orphanage Square) are atmospheric, dreamy and eclectic.