Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
| Biel/Bienne | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Berne |
| District | Biel/Bienne |
| Coordinates | 47°08′N 7°15′E |
| Population | 50295 (December 2004) |
| Area | 21.20 km² (8.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 434 m (1,424 ft) |
| Postal code | 2500-2510 |
| SFOS number | 0371 |
| Mayor | Hans Stöckli (Socialist) |
| Surrounded by | Brügg, Ipsach, Leubringen/Magglingen (Evilard/Macolin), Nidau, Orpund, Orvin, Pieterlen, Port, Safnern, Tüscherz-Alfermée, Vauffelin |
| Twin towns | Iserlohn (Germany) |
| Website | www.biel-bienne.ch |
 Biel/Bienne
|
|
Biel/Bienne (official name; Biel is German, Bienne is French) is an industrial town in Switzerland. It is in the part of Switzerland named Bern and near the city also named Bern. The town is known for many companies that make watches and machines.
[change] Introduction
The town of Biel, the capital of Swiss watch-making, lies at the end of Lake Biel, at the foot of the Jura Hills in the Lake Region. The wonderful old town with its town church and its location as the gateway to the three Jura lakes (Lakes Biel, Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten) with vineyards on the hillsides and extensive vegetable cultivation make the town very attractive. Biel is the only town in Switzerland in which German and French are spoken side by side We can feel the relaxed mentality here coming from the mixture of these three languages.
Biel was awarded the Wakker Prize in 2004 by the Swiss Heritage Society for the way it conserved its 20th century buildings, especially the ‘new construction’ from the 1920s and 30s.
Swatch, Rolex, Omega, Tissot, Movado and Mikron all come from this town. But Biel has also become important in the field of other industries and in communication.
It is possible to travel on various routes along the lakes on passenger boats in summer. The day trip through all three Jura lakes is especially popular. Of course there are all types of water sports on Lake Biel.
[change] Language
About 57% of the people in Biel speak German as their mother tongue. The remaining 43% speak French as their mother tongue. That is why the city has two names.
