24 practice questions with answers and explanations on the authorities, history, geography and culture of Bern. The app has all 410 questions on Bern and Switzerland.
Bern does not publish an official question bank. Our questions are based on the study material of the canton and the Confederation and cover the topics that are examined.
Tap an answer to see if it is right. Under “Show answer” you find the solution with an explanation and the source.
Correct answer: A – Grosser Rat (Grand Council)
The Bernese cantonal parliament is called the Grosser Rat (Grand Conseil in French). It represents the population at cantonal level and passes laws. The government is called the Regierungsrat (Conseil-exécutif).
Source: cms.hep-verlag.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – 160
The Grand Council of the canton of Bern has 160 members (as of 2026). They are elected by the people by proportional representation for four years, most recently in March 2026. Twelve seats are guaranteed for the French-speaking Bernese Jura, and the French-speaking minority in the Biel-Seeland constituency is also guaranteed representation.
Source: be.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – Bern Town Hall (Rathaus)
The Grand Council meets in the Town Hall (Rathaus) in Bern's old town. The Federal Palace is where the federal parliament meets. Bern is both the cantonal capital and the federal city.
Source: cms.hep-verlag.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – 7
The Bernese government (Regierungsrat, in French Conseil-exécutif) consists of seven members, directly elected by the people every four years. Each member heads a directorate.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – the French-speaking Bernese Jura
The French-speaking Bernese Jura is entitled to a fixed seat in the Regierungsrat. Seats are also guaranteed for the Bernese Jura in the Grand Council, so that the linguistic minority is properly represented.
Source: easyvote.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – every 4 years
In the canton of Bern the term of office of the Grand Council and the government is four years. Elections take place in spring, most recently in March 2026; the next ones are in 2030. Parliament is elected by proportional representation, the government by majority vote.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – 1353
Bern joined the Confederation in 1353 and subsequently became the most powerful city-state of the old Confederation. Zurich had joined two years earlier, in 1351.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen
The city of Bern was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchtold V of the Zähringen dynasty, on a peninsula in a loop of the Aare. The layout of the medieval town has been preserved to this day.
Source: bern.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – since 1848
In 1848 the modern federal state was founded and Bern was chosen as the seat of the Federal Council and parliament. Switzerland officially has no capital, so Bern is called the 'federal city'. The Federal Palace is located here.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – Vaud
In 1536 Bern conquered Vaud (Pays de Vaud) and ruled it until 1798, making Bern the largest city-state north of the Alps. In 1803 Vaud became a canton in its own right.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – the canton of Jura
After the long Jura conflict, the northern French-speaking part split from the canton of Bern. Following a nationwide popular vote (1978), the canton of Jura was founded in 1979; it is Switzerland's youngest canton. The southern part, the Bernese Jura, remained with the canton of Bern.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – Bern
Bern is the cantonal capital and also the federal city of Switzerland. Biel/Bienne is the canton's second-largest city and Thun the third. The city of Bern lies in a loop of the Aare.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – It covers all three natural regions: Jura, Central Plateau and Alps.
The canton of Bern stretches from the Jura across the Central Plateau into the Alps. It is the second-largest canton by area after Graubünden and the second most populous after Zurich. Switzerland's highest mountain, the Dufourspitze, is in Valais.
Source: cms.hep-verlag.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – second largest (after Graubünden)
With just under 6,000 km², Bern is Switzerland's second-largest canton; only Graubünden is larger. In population, too, Bern ranks second, behind Zurich.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – about 1.1 million
At the end of September 2025 the canton of Bern had about 1,075,000 inhabitants, including about 7,300 in Moutier, which has belonged to the canton of Jura since 1 January 2026. Bern is the most populous canton after Zurich. Roughly one eighth of the Swiss population lives in the canton of Bern.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – the Aare
The Aare flows around Bern's old town in a large loop. It comes from the Bernese Oberland and passes through Lakes Brienz and Thun. In summer many people in Bern swim in the Aare.
Source: bern.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – 3 years
In the canton of Bern primary school lasts six years and lower secondary three years. This is followed by an apprenticeship or an upper secondary school (Sekundarstufe II), which is not compulsory.
Source: cms.hep-verlag.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – the watch industry
Biel/Bienne is a centre of the Swiss watch industry, with several well-known watch brands headquartered there. The watch industry shapes the entire Jura arc.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – Emmentaler
Emmentaler, with its large holes, originally comes from the Emmental in the canton of Bern, where agriculture is still important today. Gruyère is named after the Gruyère region in the canton of Fribourg, Appenzeller after the Appenzell region, and Vacherin Mont-d'Or after the Mont d'Or on the border between Vaud and France.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – since 1983
Bern's old town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. It features a medieval town plan with arcades, fountains and the Zytglogge clock tower, preserved since the town's founding.
Source: kultur.bkd.be.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – onions
The Zibelemärit (onion market) takes place every year on the fourth Monday of November in the city of Bern. Mainly artfully braided onion strings and wreaths are sold. It is Bern's largest market and a popular festival.
Source: bern.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – on the fourth Monday of November
The Zibelemärit is held every year on the fourth Monday of November. Thousands of people flock to Bern's old town from early morning. Confetti battles and onion tart are also typical.
Source: bern.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – the Lauberhorn race
The Lauberhorn race in Wengen is one of the best-known ski World Cup races. Its downhill is considered the longest in the World Cup. Tens of thousands of spectators come every January.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – the Unspunnen festival
At the Unspunnen festival in Interlaken, wrestlers, yodellers and alphorn players compete. Throwing the Unspunnen stone, which weighs over 80 kilograms, is famous. The festival is not held every year but only at intervals of several years.
Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026
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