Bern

Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry of Switzerland - Schweizer Wappen / Armorial de Suisse

BERN

Canton : Bern
Additions : 1919 Bümpliz

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms are canting (Bär = bear), and have been used since the 13^th century. The oldest seal of the city dates from 1224 and shows already the bear, but not in a shield and not in a bend. The bear also appears on 13^th century coins of the city (see below).

The oldest seal and coin of Bern.

The colours are known since the 14^th century, and the arms have never changed since. The arms are also used by the district of Bern and the Canton Bern. To distinguish the arms the canton often uses a floral crown, the city uses a mural crown.

The oldest known description of the arms of Bern dates from the Guglerlied from 1375 :
Berner waffen ist so schnell
mit drin gevarwten strichen;
der ein ist rot, der mittel gel,
darin stat unverblichen
ein ber gar swarz gemalet wol,
rot sind ihn die clawen;
er ist swerzer denn ein kol,
bris er bejagen sol.
(freely translated as : the arms of Bern are so fast, with three painted stripes, the one is red, the middle yellow, in which stands a black bear, with red claws, blacker than a coal, until the hunting begins).