Canton of Bern

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Bern
Berne
Image:Bern.png
Image:Swiss Canton Map BE.png
Capital Bern
Area 5959 km² (Ranked 2nd)
Highest point Finsteraarhorn 4274 m
Population (2003) 947100 (Ranked 2nd)
158 /km²
Joined 1353
Abbreviation BE
Languages German , French
Executive Regierungsrat (7)
Legislative Grosser Rat (200)
Municipalities 399 municipalities
Districts 26 Amtsbezirke, Districts
Website www.BE.ch
Image:Karte Kanton Bern.png


The Swiss canton of Bern is bilingual (German: Kanton Bern; French Canton de Berne) and has a population of about 947,000 (8,2% French-speaking and 84% German-speaking). It is located in west- central Switzerland and the city of Bern is its capital. People speak a local Swiss German dialect (Bernese German) in 22 districts, French is spoken in the 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura area (Jura bernois in French) in the north of the Canton. Both Swiss German and French are spoken in the bilingual city of Biel/Bienne.

Contents

Geography

The canton of Bern is the second largest of all Swiss cantons. It borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud, to the south lies the Valais. East of the canton of Bern lie the cantons of Uri, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Lucerne and Aargau.

The canton of Bern is mainly drained by the River Aare and its tributaries. The area of the canton is commonly divided into three areas. The Bernese Oberland (Berner Oberland) lies in the south of the canton and is part of the Alps. The highest elevation in the Bernese Oberland is the Finsteraarhorn with 4274 m. The famous resorts around Interlaken and the Jungfrau (4158 m) are located within this area. Other resorts in the Bernese Oberland are Thun, Meiringen and Aareschlucht, Grindelwald, Mürren and Kandersteg. The whole area is very mountainous and renowned for its scenic beauty. As a result of this tourism is one of the main sources of income in the Bernese Oberland.

Mountains in Bern:

The Bernese Midlands (Berner Mittelland) is made up of the valley of the rivers Aare, the river Emme, some of the foothills of the Bernese Alps, as well as the plain around the capital Bern. In the north of the canton of Bern lies the third region: the Lake Region (Seenland) concentrated around Lake Biel.

The area of the canton is 5959 km².

History

The area of the canton of Bern consists of lands acquired by its capital, mostly between the 14th and the 16th century, both by conquest and purchase. Acquired districts include (with dates of acquisition):

Some regions previously won left the canton in 1798: Aargau (1415), Aigle and Grandson (1475), Vaud (1536), and the Pays d'En-Haut including Château-d'Œx (1555). From 1798 to 1802 the Oberland formed a separate canton of the Helvetic Republic called canton of Thun with Thun as its capital. Certain French-speaking portions of the canton of Bern broke away from the canton only in the late 20th century and since 1979 comprise the Canton of Jura.

Bern joined the Swiss Confederation in 1353 and was between 1803 and 1814 one of the six direcorial cantons of the Swiss Confederation.

Politics

Legislative Branch

The cantonal parliament is called the Grand Council (Grosser Rat/Grand Conseil), which consists of 200 members (from 2006 on, 160 members) elected by proportional representation for a four-year term of office. The French-speaking part of the canton, the Bernese Jura, has 12 seats guaranteed and 3 seats are guaranteed for the French-speaking minority of the bilingual district of Biel/Bienne.

As of the 2002 elections, the Grand Council is composed as follows:

Party Votes (%) Seats
SVP (conservative) 31.80 67
SPS (social-democratic) 26.45 48
FDP (free-market liberal) 17.55 36
GFL (green) 6.15 10
EVP (Christian) 5.95 11
8 minor parties ~13 22

Executive Branch

The cantonal government is the Executive Council (Regierungsrat/Conseil-éxecutif). This seven-member collegial body is elected by the people for a period of four years. The cantonal constitution reserves one seat in the Executive Council for a French-speaking citizen from the Bernese Jura. The presidency, by convention, rotates annually and the position is largely that of a primus inter pares.

Presently (as of 2005) the government is composed as follows:

  • President of the Government Mario Annoni, FDP: Education Department
  • Executive Councillor Samuel Bhend, SPS: Health and Socal Services Department
  • Executive Councillor Elisabeth Zölch-Balmer, SVP: Economic Department
  • Executive Councillor Dora Andres, FDP: Police and Military Department
  • Executive Councillor Werner Luginbühl, SVP: Department of Justice, Municipalities and Churches
  • Executive Councillor Urs Gasche, SVP: Finance Department
  • Executive Councillor Barbara Egger-Jenzer, SPS: Department of Construction, Transport and Energy
  • State Chancellor Kurt Nuspliger, SPS: State Chancellory (chief of staff with no vote in the Council)

Judicial Branch

The canton has a two-tiered court system, consisting of district courts and a cantonal Supreme Court (Obergericht/Cour suprême). There is also an administrative court (Verwaltungsgericht/Tribunal administratif) as well as other specialised courts and judicial boards. See [1] for details.

Economy

Tourism is the main source of income in the Bernese Oberland. Other important sectors are agriculture (especially cattle breeding), cheese making, and hydroelectric power generation. The Bernese cheese Emmental cheese is known around the world.

In the Bernese Midlands the lands are more fertile. Agriculture is of great importance, but this part of the canton is also the most industrialized. Small and middle-sized businesses are important employers in this part of the canton of Bern. There is a nuclear power plant at Mühleberg.

The area around the Lake Biel is renowned for its wine production.

The 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura and the bilingual district of Biel/Bienne are renowned for their worldwide well known watch industry and its mechanical industry (high precision machine tools, automation and machining).

Demographics

The canton of Bern is bilingual: Both German (84%) and French (8,2%) are spoken. The majority is German speaking. Most are Protestant. The French-speaking population of the canton of Bern lives in the northern part of the canton, in the Bernese Jura area, also called Jura bernois in French.

Natives

A number of celebrities are natives of the canton of Bern: Category:Natives of Bern

Districts and Municipalities

As of April 2004, there are 398 municipalities of the canton of Berne within the following 26 administrative districts:

Image:Map Canton Bern Districts.png

Related articles

External links


Cantons of Switzerland Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg
Aargau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | Appenzell Innerrhoden | Basel-City | Basel-Country | Bern | Fribourg | Geneva | Glarus | Graubünden | Jura | Lucerne | Neuchâtel | Nidwalden | Obwalden | Schaffhausen | Schwyz | Solothurn | St. Gallen | Thurgau | Ticino | Uri | Valais | Vaud | Zug | Zürich

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