According to tradition, Bern was founded as a military post, in 1191 by Berchtold V of Zähringen. Emperor Frederick II made Bern a free imperial city in 1218, when Berchtold died without an heir. Bern's population and power grew, and in 1353 the city joined the Swiss Confederation. It soon became the confederation's leading member. In 1415 the territory of Aargau was conquered and in 1536, Vaud was added. The city accepted the Reformation in 1528.
Until 1798, when Switzerland was invaded by the French, during the French Revolution, the region around Bern was governed by an autocratic urban aristocracy. During the French occupation, Bern's treasury was pillaged and its territories dismembered. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Bern failed to recover Vaud and Aargau, but received the Bernese Jura (the former Bishopric of Basel). In 1831 a liberal constitution was adopted and in 1848 Bern became the capital of the Swiss Confederation.
Bern has countless sandstone, medieval buildings, including guild halls, the 15th-century town hall and a noted Minster that was begun in the 15th century as well. One of Bern's major sights is its medieval clock tower. Bern is one of Europe's finest examples of medieval civic architecture and the city's old town is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Bern is the seat of the Swiss government.
Thanks to 6 kilometers of arcades, Bern boasts one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. Under the arcades and on squares and side streets are dozens of restaurants and cafés, as well as countless shops.
The Aare River snakes around the old town and is perfect for refreshing summer dips. You can stroll along the riverbank under leafy trees, which provide the city with a green artery. The railway station is only a few minutes' walk away.
One of the city's most interesting museums is the Museum of Fine Art, which houses the world's largest collection of Paul Klee works. Einstein lived in Bern and developed his special theory of relativity there.
There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the Swiss capital. Concert hall and municipal theatre are all within walking distance from the old town. Modern dance performances, jazz concerts and other events are organized frequently, making Bern one of Switzerland's most important cultural centers.