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Summary and Frequenly Asked Questions:
- Bern was declared a Free Imperial city in 1218 as part of the Holy Roman Empire.
- It is currently known as a Swiss Federal city and is the capital of Switzerland.
- The old city was built on uneven ground, on a peninsula in the crook of the River Aare.
- In 1406, many of the wooden buildings were destroyed by fire and replaced by sandstone and half-timber framed structures.
- There are 114 Swiss heritage sites in the city, and the old town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
- Approximately half a million people live in Bern and the surrounding areas, a large percentage of which are foreigners.
- There are 6 km of arcades and undercover shopping in Bern.
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