Bärengraben

The Bärengraben, or Bear Pit, is a tourist attraction in the Swiss capital city of Bern. It is a bear pit, or enclosure housing bears, situated at the eastern edge of the old city of Bern, next to the Nydeggbrücke and the River Aar. Although still in use, the Bärengraben has been supplemented since 2009 by the adjacent BärenPark, a larger and more natural enclosure alongside the River Aar. The Bärengraben is a Swiss heritage site of national significance, and is of particular significance in Bern because the bear is a symbol of both the city and surrounding canton, and is featured in their coat of arms. The bear has long served as a symbol of Bern, and the first records of bears being kept in the city come from 1513. The current pit is the fourth such enclosure and was first opened in 1857. In 2009, the BärenPark was opened, providing a larger and more natural space for the bears. The Bärengraben can be seen in various forms of media, including the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the children's book series Mary Plain