Top: These well-loved bears find their new habitat more natural than the old bear pit. Above: Zytglogge clock tower at the end of Bern's shopping promenade was Albert Einstein's inspiration for his law of gravity. There's a carousel that pops out from the clock every hour.

 

Just how important are bears in the city's heritage? It is believed that its name was derived from the German word 'bar' or bear.

Since 16th century, caged bears have been kept in the city. There was also a part in history when the Bernese Army, fresh from military victory, arrived with a living bear as loot. From then on, bears were immortalized and featured in the city's flag and coat-of-arms.

There are plenty of things around the bear park. Children and children-at-heart can have their photos at a bear statue, visit the small bear museum or simply hang out in cafes and marvel at the meandering river and the surrounding hills, and the parallel rows of houses with brick-colored thatched roofs.

After spending some time around the bear park, we headed back to the city center to examine other attractions.

The Bern Munster stood mightily from a distance like a rocket ready to launch. We covet its beauty from the outside because of time constraint.

Besides having the tallest spire and bell tower in the country, it is also home to some important medieval arts such as the Last Judgment that contains more than 200 carved wood and stone figures.

Along the street, I notice several small closed doors that lead underground. Our host explains that normally these are bars and cafes that open late in the afternoon or evening.

During the day, they look like boring doors to equally dreary garages but I can imagine how they transform in the evening.

The line of "garage doors" stops just below the medieval clock tower or the Zytglogge, Bern's first western city gate.

It is said to be Albert Einstein's inspiration for the law of gravity in 1905 while working in the patent office. (He conceived it while looking at the clock from the back of the train.) For more of this great Bern inhabitant (who lived in 49 Kramgasse with his wife and son), there's an Einstein Museum at Helvetiaplatz, just across the river.

Our last stop was the Federal Building that houses the Parliament. Built in 1902 with Florentine Renaissance style, the building is surrounded by other important edifices such as the justice hall and the central bank.

In front, a fountain danced gracefully covering almost its entire facade. My research tells me that the fountain releases 26 squirts, one for each Swiss state. With bare eyes, it is difficult to tell how many squirts are there actually but I have no doubts about the Swiss' precision.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.