A Long History Between Bern and Its Bears
The relationship between the city of Bern, Switzerland, and its symbolic animal, the bear, stretches back centuries, evolving from a perceived threat to a cherished emblem and, more recently, a focus of animal welfare concerns. Today, , the bears of Bern reside in a modern, spacious enclosure, a significant departure from their historical confinement.
From Legend to Heraldry
Legend attributes the city’s founding in 1191 to Duke Berthold V of Zähringen, who supposedly named the settlement “Bern” after the first animal he killed during a hunt – a bear. While this tale is popular, more recent research suggests the name may derive from the Celtic word “Berna,” meaning “cleft” or “ravine,” referencing the geography of the area around the Aare River. Regardless of its origin, the bear quickly became a central symbol of Bern, appearing on official seals and coins as early as the 13th century.
Early Captivity and a Symbol of Power
The practice of keeping live bears in Bern dates back to at least 1513, with the first recorded bear being a war trophy from the Battle of Novara. These early enclosures weren’t intended for conservation or education, but rather as a demonstration of Bern’s strength and dominance. As one source notes, it was “a statement — a symbol of the fierce Bernese who fight like bears.” The bears were initially kept in a pit on Bärenplatz, later moved several times due to the city’s expansion, eventually settling at the lower end of the Old Town in 1857.
A Brief Absence During Napoleonic Times
The city’s bear population faced a temporary disruption in 1798 when Napoleon’s forces occupied Bern. The French soldiers took the city’s bears with them to Paris, leaving only a small, deceased bear cub behind in the Bärengraben. This period coincided with a decline in Bern’s power, having previously been a significant city-state controlling territories including present-day Aargau and Vaud.
The Bärengraben and the Rise of Welfare Concerns
For many years, the Bärengraben – or Bear Pit – served as a popular tourist attraction. However, as awareness of animal welfare grew, the enclosure came under increasing scrutiny. A visitor recalling a visit 24 years prior to , described it as a “drab fortified pit,” feeling that the bears deserved to roam freely in the Swiss Alps rather than being confined to a concrete space.
The BärenPark: A Modern Approach
Responding to these concerns, the city of Bern began planning a more natural enclosure in 2001. Since 2009, the Bärengraben has been supplemented by the adjacent BärenPark, offering the bears a larger habitat alongside the Aare River, complete with water areas, sleeping caves, and appropriate feeding spaces. The Bärengraben and BärenPark are now administered as part of the Dählhölzli Zoo.
A Heritage Site
The Bärengraben remains a Swiss heritage site of national significance, reflecting the enduring cultural importance of the bear to the city and canton of Bern. The stuffed remains of the cub left behind by the French are even on display in the city’s Historical Museum, serving as a reminder of Bern’s past and a symbol of the changing relationship between the city and its iconic animal.
