Swiss Government Moves Capital to Bern - July 8, 1891

On July 8, 1891, the Swiss government made an important decision to designate Bern as the federal city of Switzerland, effectively making it the de facto capital of the country. This decision was a result of both strategic considerations and historical evolution within the Swiss Confederation.

Background

Switzerland, a country known for its policy of neutrality and decentralized political structure, did not have an official capital city for much of its early history. In the aftermath of the 1848 Swiss Federal Constitution — where modern Switzerland took shape — there was a need for a centralized location for federal governmental functions.

Why Bern?

Before 1891, Switzerland considered several cities as potential seats of the federal government, including Zurich, Lucerne, and Basel. Bern was ultimately chosen due to several strategic and pragmatic reasons:

1. Geographical Centrality: Bern is centrally located within Switzerland, facilitating accessibility from different regions.

2. Balanced Influence: Choosing Bern helped to prevent major cities like Zurich or Geneva from having undue influence over the federal government, as Bern was neither the largest nor the most economically dominant city.

3. Historical Significance: Bern had historical precedence as a site of federal power, having hosted the Swiss Federal Assembly from 1848 onwards.

Immediate Impact

The designation of Bern as the capital solidified its role as the center of political life in Switzerland. It led to the construction and expansion of federal buildings, including the Federal Palace of Switzerland (Bundeshaus), which further entrenched Bern’s status as the seat of the Swiss federal government.

Long-term Implications

The decision to establish Bern as the de-facto capital played a significant role in shaping the identity of Switzerland as a unified yet diverse confederation. Bern’s role as a neutral ground for Swiss cantons helped to maintain the country’s tradition of consensus and cooperative federalism.

This decision has had lasting influence, maintaining the balance between various linguistic, cultural, and regional influences within Switzerland, and reinforcing the Swiss federal system based on equality among its cantons.

Bern remains the political nerve center of Switzerland to this day, housing the federal government, many diplomatic missions, and international organizations.