Bern Bear Park, Switzerland

Bern Bear Park, or Baerenpark © http://www.baerenpark-bern.ch/

Bears are not the first animal you expect to see strolling the riverbanks of Switzerland, especially not in a densely populated city. But the capital Bern has been home to brown bears ever since it was founded in 1191.

Several historic bear pits still exist but have now been transformed into a museum; one is even available to hire for quirky events (minus the bears).

Meanwhile, the resident bears have now moved to the forested 6,000-square-metre modern Baerenpark beside the River Aare. It has numerous caves and pools to provide the creatures with as natural environment as possible.

Written by - Photo by Baerenpark Bern

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