Bern, also spelled Bern, is the capital of Switzerland and the canton of Berne, in the western central part of the country. It lies along the narrow loop of the Are River. Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, founded the city of Bern. For strategic reasons, it was necessary to have a strong fortification on the peninsula formed by the river Are, so the duke accordingly entrusted one of his nobles with the task of building a city there.
