Au revoir Bern, the capital of Switzerland . It was like stepping back in time with its charming old town, medieval architecture, and cobblestone streets. Built on a peninsula surrounded by the Aare River, the city was originally fortified for protection in the 12th century. After a devastating fire in 1405, much of Bern was rebuilt using sandstone, giving the old town its unique and unified appearance. We were lucky to catch the start of the Santa Race, a fun and festive kickoff to the Christmas Market season, bringing holiday spirit to this historic city!

Bern has bears because the city’s name is believed to come from the German word Bär (bear). According to legend, Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who founded Bern in 1191, vowed to name the city after the first animal he hunted in the area, which happened to be a bear. Since then, the bear has become a symbol of the city, appearing on its coat of arms, flags, and even in the Bear Park (BärenPark), where live bears have been kept as a tradition for centuries.