BERNE, capital of the Swiss canton of the same name (Ger. Bern; Ital. Berna), and political capital of the Swiss confederation, picturesquely situated on a peninsula, i,800ft. above sea, sur rounded, save on the west, by the river Aar. Five lofty bridges cross the river, leading to the extensive residential quarters. The existence of the ancient castle of Nydeck, at the eastern end of the peninsula, guarding the passage over the Aar, probably induced Berchtold V., duke of Zaringen, to found Berne in 1191 as a military post on the frontier between the Alamannians (German speaking) and the Burgundians (French-speaking). Thrice the walls which protected the town were moved westwards, in 1256, 1346 and 1622. After the extinction of the Zaringen dynasty (1218) Berne became a free imperial city. Its independence was finally secured by the victories of Dornbiihl- over Fribourg and the Habsburgs and of Laupen over the neighbouring Burgundian nobles. In it entered the Swiss confederation as its eighth member. It soon took the lead in the confederation. In 1528 Berne accepted the religious reformation, and henceforth became one of its chief champions in Switzerland. In the 18th century the town governed 52 bailiwicks (acquired between 1324 and 1729), the Bernese patricians being thus extremely powerful. Two attempts to break down this monopoly, in 1723 and failed, but the whole system was swept away by the French in 1798, and, though partially revived in 1815, came to an end in 1831. From 1815 to 1848 it shared with Zurich and Lucerne the supreme rule (which shifted from one to the other every two years) in the Swiss confederation, while in 1848 a Federal law made Berne ale sole political capital. In 1930, out of a total popu lation of 1II,783, German-speaking inhabitants numbered 102, 444, while 95,600 were Protestants, 13,280 were Catholics and 1,039 were Jews. The arcades (Lauben) of the old town, and the numerous elaborately ornamented fountains, are noteworthy, as well as the two remaining towers of the old walls of the Kdfigturm and the Zeitglockenturm (famous for its 16th-century clock). The principal mediaeval building in Berne is the (now Protestant) Munster, begun in 1421 though not completed till 1611. The tower, rising conspicuously above the town, was restored in The Federal Houses of Parliament (Bundeshaus) date in their oldest portion from 1852-57; in the east wing from 1888 92. The central part with the session rooms was built in 1902. This group of buildings, occupying a remarkable site on the edge of the bluff above the Aar, also contains the offices of the Federal executive and administration, besides the central seat of the National Bank (created in 1907). The town hall dates from 1406, while some of the houses belonging to the old gilds are of interest. The town library (with which the university library was incorporated in 1905) contains many mss. and rare printed books. Museums include the historical (archaeological and mediaeval), the natural history, the art (mainly modern Swiss pictures), and the Alpine (in which are collections relating to the Swiss Alps). The University of Berne, founded in 1834, had 1,500 students in 1925-26. The old fortifications (Schanzen) have been converted into promenades, which command wonderful views of the snowy Alps of the Bernese Oberland. Just across the Nydeck bridge is the famous bear pit. Bears, which are supposed to have given the town its name, have been maintained there since 1513; certainly a bear is shown on the earliest known seal (1224). The industries of Berne include chocolate-making and engine-building. Its main activities are political and administrative, and it has become the seat of various international associations (postal, telegraph, rail way, copyright, etc.).