Timeline of Bern

Prior to 19th century

2nd-3rd century CE - Roman settlement abandoned.

1191 - Bern set up as military outpost by Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen.

1218 - Bern becomes a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire.

1219 - Zytglogge (tower) built.

1223 - Theto von Ravensburg becomes Schultheiss von Bern.

1256 - Käfigturm (tower) built.

1268 - Nydegg Castle demolished (approximate date).

1270 - Felsenburg (castle) built (approximate date).

1285 - Predigerkirche (Bern) (church) built.

1289 - April: Battle of Schosshalde takes place; Bern "successfully resisted Rudolph of Hapsburg."

1298

Bern allies with Biel, Murten, and Solothurn.

Bern expands to include Bolligen, Muri, Stettlen, and Vechigen.

1331-1333 - Gümmenenkrieg (Fribourg-Bern war).

1339 - Battle of Laupen.

1345 - Golatenmatttor (tower) built.

1346

Black Death plague.

Äussere Neustadt (Bern) area developed.

Christoffelturm (tower) and Nydeggkirche (church) built.

1353 - Canton of Bern joins the Swiss Confederacy.

1380 - Public clock installed (approximate date).

1383-1384 - Burgdorferkrieg (Kyberg-Bern war) takes place in the County of Burgundy.

1417 - Rathaus (Bern) (town hall) built.

1421 - Bern Munster construction begins.

1430 - Konrad Justinger writes Chronik der Stadt Bern, a history of the city.

1470 - Tschachtlanchronik (Bern history) compiled.

1489 - Untertorbrücke (bridge) built.

1494 - Antoniterkirche (Bern) (church) rebuilt.

1513 - Town begins to keep bears in the Bärenplatz.

1525 - Printing press in operation.

1528 - Berner Disputation.

1530 - Astronomical clock installed in the Zytglogge.

1532 - Bernese Synod adopted.

1543 - Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Bern) (fountain) erected on Gerechtigkeitsgasse.

1544 - Simsonbrunnen (fountain) erected.

1546 - Fountains Anna-Seiler-Brunnen (on Marktgasse) and Pfeiferbrunnen (on Spitalgasse) erected.

1573 - Munster construction ends.

1615 - Schallenhaus (prison) in operation.

1700 - Population: 14,219.

1718 - Kornhaus (Bern) (granary) built.

1729 - Church of the Holy Ghost, Bern rebuilt.

1752 - Erlacherhof (mansion) built.

1759 - Ökonomische Gesellschaft (scientific society) founded.

1798 - 5 March: Battle of Grauholz takes place in canton; French in power.

1799 - Stämpfli (publisher) in business.[1]

19th century

1803 - City library active.

1815 - Bernischen Musikgesellschaft (music society) founded.

1817 - Rathaus zum Äusseren Stand (government building) rebuilt.

1818 - Population: 18,997.

1830 - Eidgenössisches Schützenfest held in Bern.

1832

Karl Zeerleder becomes mayor.

Canton becomes administratively independent of city.

1834 - University of Bern established.

1837 - Population: 24,362.

1844 - Nydeggbrücke (bridge) built.

1846 - Historical Society of the Canton of Bern founded.

1848 - Bern becomes capital of Switzerland.

1850

Der Bund newspaper begins publication.

Population: 29,670 in city; 407,765 in canton.

1851 - Tiefenaubrücke (bridge) built.

1857 - Bundeshaus (Bern) and Bärengraben (bear pit) built.

1858

Bern railway station opens.

Musikschule Konservatorium Bern founded.

1863 - Bernischen Juristenverein (lawyers' association) founded.[2]

1864 - Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul, Bern built.

1868 - Chocolat Tobler in business.

1874

International Weltpostkongress 1874 (postal union meeting) held in Bern; "Treaty concerning the formation of a General Postal Union" signed.

Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland headquartered in Bern.

1877 - Bern Symphony Orchestra established.

1879 - Conche machine invented by chocolate maker Rodolphe Lindt.

1880

Engehalbinsel oppidum ruins discovered near city.

Population: 44,087 in city; 471,991 in canton.

1886 - International "Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works" signed in city.

1888 - Berner Tramway-Gesellschaft founded.

1891

August: 700th anniversary of city founding.

State Archive of Bern founded.

1893

June: Labour unrest.

Johanneskirche (Bern) (church) built.

1894 - Bern Historical Museum built.

20th century

1900 - Städtische Strassenbahn Bern (public transit operator) and Gutenberg Museum (Bern)[3] established.

1902 - Federal Palace of Switzerland building expanded.

1903 - Albert Einstein moves into Einsteinhaus on Kramgasse.

1905

St. Paul's Church, Bern built.

Akademischer Alpenclub Bern (hiking club) formed.

1906

"International Convention respecting the Prohibition of the Use of White (Yellow) Phosphorus in the Manufacture of Matches" signed in Bern.

Anglican St Ursula's Church, Berne built.

1910

Eidgenössisches Schützenfest and Swiss Aviation Exhibition held.

Population: 90,937 in city; 578,381 in canton.

1914 - Schweizerische Landesausstellung 1914 (national exposition) held in Bern.

1915 - March: International socialist anti-war women's conference held in Bern.

1918

Elfenau park now belongs to city.

Haupt Verlag (publisher) in business.[4]

1919

Bümpliz becomes part of city.

February: Second International conference held in Bern.

1920 - Friedenskirche (Bern) (church) built.

1928 - Schweizeische Ausstellung für Frauenarbeit (women's rights event) held in Bern.

1929

Bern Aerodrome begins operating.

Alpar AG airline headquartered in Bern.

1930 - Population: 111,783 in city; 623,665 in canton.

1933 - Bern Trial begins.

1936 - National Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents headquartered in Bern.

1939

Tierpark Dählhölzli (zoo) opens.

Berner Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Heimatkunde (history journal) in publication.

1940 - Trolleybus begins operating.

1947 - Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Bern (public transit operator) established.

1949

Zytglogge Theater founded.

Felsenaubrücke (bridge) and Petruskirche (Bern) (church) built.

1950 - Population: 146,499 in city; 731,550 in canton.

1951 - Burgerbibliothek of Berne (public library) foundation established.

1955 - February: Romanian embassy seized.

1969 - Szeemann's art exhibit "provokes a national scandal."

1970 - Population: 162,405 in city; 901,706 in canton.

1977

Gurtenfestival of music begins.

Albert Einstein Society founded.

1979

French-speaking Canton of Jura secedes from mostly German-speaking Canton of Bern.

Berner Zeitung (newspaper) begins publication.

1982 - 6 September: Polish embassy occupied.

1983 - Old City of Bern designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1984 - Regional Transport Bern-Solothurn established.

1990 - March: Demonstration against federal government keeping secret files on citizens.

1993 - Klaus Baumgartner becomes mayor.

1995 - Bern S-Bahn railway in operation.

21st century

2000 - Population: 128,634 in city; 957,197 in canton.

2002 - House of Religions founded.

2004 - Buskers Bern Street Music Festival begins.

2005

Paul Klee Centre built.

Alexander Tschäppät becomes mayor.

2007

4 August: Kulturzentrum Reithalle bombing.

October: Political unrest.

2008 - June: UEFA Euro 2008 Group C football contest takes place in Bern.

2009 - Bärenpark Bern opens.

2013 - Population: 137,980.