What is the capital of Switzerland?
Bern is the de facto capital of Switzerland, where the federal government and parliament meet. The Swiss constitution calls it the federal city rather than the capital.
When modern Switzerland was formed in 1848, the new federal state needed a seat of government. Bern was chosen as a compromise, partly because it lies between the German-speaking and French-speaking regions and was not as dominant as Zurich or Geneva.
Bern's medieval old town, with its arcades, fountains and famous clock tower, the Zytglogge, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is named, according to legend, after a bear, and bears still live in a park by the river.
Bigger Swiss cities
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and financial center, and Geneva hosts many international organizations, including the European headquarters of the United Nations and the Red Cross. Because they are better known abroad, many people wrongly guess them as the capital.
Did You Know?
Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Albert Einstein developed his special theory of relativity while living in Bern.