Blog
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.
« Back