BIENNE, byrm (Ger. name, Biel). A town of Switzerland, in the Canton of Bern, 17 miles northwest of the city of Bern. beautifully situ ated at the foot of the vine-clad Jura and 1400 feet above sea-level, at the month of the valley of the Suze, and at the northern extremity of the lake of Bienne (Map: Switzerland. B 1). It is surrounded by old walls. and approached by shady avenues. Bienne has several interesting buildings, notably the city church and the new Catholic church, the former castle. now the town ball, and the Schwab Museum, which contains an interesting collection of Roman and Celtic weapons, and remains of the ancient lake dwellers. Chief among the educational institu tions are the West Swiss Technical Institute, which includes a school for railroad employ6s and a watchmakers' school. Manufactures are in a flourishing condition, consisting mainly of watchmaking, cotton-spinning, tanning, dyeing, bookbinding, machine-building, and the manu facture of jewelry, cigars, and paper. There is a
street railroad to Nidan and to Boujean to the north, while cable roads ascend the surrounding mountains. Bienne is on the line of railroads running to Basel and Bern. Bienne is a place of great antiquity. It belonged to the Bishop of Basel; but as early as 1352, it entered into an alliance with Bern for the protection of its liberties. The Reformation so weakened the power of the clerical governors of Bienne that in the beginning of the Seventeenth Century it had become merely nominal; and Bienne was essen tially a free city until 1797. when it was annexed to France. In 1815 it was united to Bern. Population, 1900. 22.100.