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International Removals to Berne with Hamiltons Removals
Whether you spell it Bern or Berne, the Swiss capital is one of the more attractive places in Europe to move to; three out of every 10 people who live in the city are from outside Switzerland. Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer international removals to Berne, take a closer look at the city.
The History and Heritage
The origin of the city’s name is uncertain, but the city itself dates back to 1191. Some believe it is named after a bear – the first animal the city’s founder and ruler, the Duke of Zahringen, met on a hunt (he had pledged to do this in advance); others say it was named after the Italian city of Verona, which translated as ‘Bern’ in Middle High German. The French and the English still spell the city’s name with the extra ‘e’.
Originally, Berne was part of the Roman Empire, but became a ‘free’ city in 1218 and effectively became part of Switzerland in the mid-14th century.
The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this is because in 1405 a large fire broke out and destroyed many of the city’s timber buildings. These were replaced by sandstone houses and arcades which survive to this day and are an integral feature of the Old Town.
Berne is the administrative capital of the country, while Lausanne is the judicial capital.
Getting There and Getting Around
There is an airport close to the city, Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome (conventionally known as Bern Airport), but the flights it offers tend to be seasonal (and there are no direct flights from the UK). You may be better off flying in via Geneva, Basel or Zurich and commuting in by train.
While travel links by air may be slightly lacking, the city is the hub of the country’s federal rail network. There’s also a commuter rail network (the S-Bahn, which is partly underground) within the city.
Buses or trams are also viable alternatives; the city is also reasonably bike-friendly, and most thoroughfares have dedicated cycling lanes. Most of the city centre (particularly the Old Town) is easily explored on foot.
The one option that isn’t easy to recommend for travelling in Berne’s city centre is by car, as parking is very expensive and the Old Town streets are narrow.
The Main Attractions
As well as the Old Town, the Zytglotte (the clock tower, pictured above) is always worth a look; make sure you pass it just before the hour as you’ll see a display by mechanical figures including a king, a jester and (in a nod to the city’s heritage) some bears at the turn of the hour.
The city lies on the Aare River, which is safe enough to swim in (and many do during the warmest months of the year). In winter, there are plenty of free ice rinks to skate on; the most famous is the Bundesplatz.
Berne also has its own zoo, close to the river and the city centre, including a bear park with a family of bears living there. Most of the museums and art galleries are located in the Kirchenfeld quarter (also close to the centre), which is easily reachable either on foot or via public transport.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
Spitalgasse and Marktgasse are the main shopping streets in the Old Town – many of the stores are in the stone arcades, so there’s plenty of cover in case of poor weather. However, be aware that the opening hours may not be as flexible as the UK, and prices tend to be more expensive.
There are also plenty of farmers’ markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays offering fresh, local produce. The most famous local dish is probably the Berner Platte which has meat (usually some form of pork) cooked with vegetables such as sauerkraut, turnips, beans and boiled potatoes on a large platter.
For a sweet treat, meringues and hazelnut gingerbread are popular (although the latter doesn’t have many traditional ingredients), with baked goods in particular featuring at the forefront in the many winter markets.
International Removals to Berne with East Anglian Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in international removals to Berne (and it’s worth noting that Switzerland is not a member of the EU but is part of the single market) then contact Hamiltons, one of the leading removal companies in East Anglia.
We can also help with moves to Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne and all the other major Swiss towns and cities – for more information follow this link.
Why Summer’s a Good Time to Declutter and Use Self-Storage
Summer might seem like an unusual time to declutter your home – after all, wouldn’t you rather be enjoying any sunshine or going on holiday? Hamiltons Removals have a number of storage units to let in Harleston, and some bigger containers in nearby Aldeby; here we outline some of the practical benefits to giving your home – or business – the once-over in August.
You Are Moving House
Most house moves take place during the summer, when people typically find it easier to get time off (and you don’t have to worry about kids going to or from school either).
So, if you are going to a new home, it makes sense to declutter well before you move – you’ll have to decide at some point about everything you own, from the big to the small. If you can’t make on what to keep and what to dispose of, some of your items can always be sent to self-storage – you can then assess at a later date whether you have room (or need) for them in your new home.
Many people can also get stuck in property chains and may find themselves no longer moving on the exact date they initially thought, so may need somewhere to put their possessions at short notice.
You Are Renovating
Again, summer can be a good time for DIY projects if you aren’t going away on holiday (remember there’s always a bank holiday Monday at the end of the month).
You will have the time, and, provided the weather behaves itself, you should be able to have the windows open to avoid any noxious fumes (which may help any paint you’ve applied dry quickly).
The same applies to businesses, too – the chances are there will be a number of people on holiday so you’ll have more space in which to renovate.
The whole process will be much simpler if you don’t have to manoeuvre your way around furniture (or worry about splashing paint and other materials on them or the floor), so a short period of self-storage could make the whole DIY project much easier to carry out.
The Children Can Help
It’ll give them a project to work on during the summer holidays – there’s less chance of them getting under your feet or complaining of not having enough things to do!
The chances are that your children have just as much clutter as you do. You could incentivise their decluttering by letting them sell their old toys on websites such as eBay or encourage them to donate unwanted items to a charity shop, or give them to friends or other family members.
Better Security
Your home may benefit from self-storage if you want to keep all the windows open in the summer (particularly if you are renovating) – putting items in secure units means any opportunist thieves may be deterred if there’s not as much there to interest them.
Schools may also benefit from self-storage as well – classroom furniture, computer equipment and even stationery may be tempting for thieves, as they know no one (save a few support staff) will be occupying the classrooms during the holidays, no matter how secure any storage facilities. Putting them elsewhere, away from prying eyes, may be better than employing security guards or relying on caretakers.
Specialist self-storage sites such as our own have plenty of security measures in places – as well as temperature controls so nothing is damaged
Storage Units to Let in Harleston with Hamiltons Removals
Whether you just want to declutter or use self-storage (or both) we can help. And if you are planning to move house, then Hamiltons Removals offer a full range of removals services, to destinations in the UK, Europe and further afield.
Our Safe n Stored site at Harleston, as well as offering a range of units which start at £65 a month, also has a shop where you buy a range of high-quality packing materials, including small, medium and large moving and decluttering kits. We have a number of specialist products, such as furniture covers for moving home, wardrobe cartons and mattress covers. You don’t need to visit us – you can buy your packaging paper online if you prefer by visiting our online shop.
Our site at Aldeby also has a range of self-storage containers which make them ideal for larger items, including vehicles, boats and caravans – an ideal location if you have already had your summer holiday. We’ve also got the security angle covered – both sites have restricted access and are covered by CCTV cameras with sophisticated alarms which are monitored out of hours at all times by people and not machines.
If you’d like to know more, check out our self-storage options here or call us on 01379 855203.