The relationship between the city of Bern and their heraldic animal has had a long tradition. According to legend, the bear was the first animal to be killed by the founder of the city, Duke Berchtold V. von Zähringen, and gave the new city its name. Is this true?

The coat of arms of Bern also show a bear: a walking black bear with red claws on a golden bar on a red background. It seems to be self-evident that the bear has to be male and that he has to stress his fearlessness by opening his mouth and sticking his tongue out. Was the first bear really a male?

The first official information about a Bear Pit in Bern near the Käfigturm was published in 1441. Today’s park is the fourth Bear Pit. It was opened in 1857 and complemented with a smaller pit for the upbringing of young bears. Where were the other Bear Pits?