Canton of

Bern

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Aarberg Aarwangen Berne Biel Büren Burgdorf Courtelary Erlach Fraubrunnen Frutigen Interlaken Konolfingen Laupen Moutier La Neuveville Nidau Niedersimmental Oberhasli Obersimmental Saanen Schwarzenburg Seftigen Signau Thun Trachselwald Wangen

The arms are canting, and have been used since the 13^th century. The oldest seal of the city dates from 1224 and shows already the bear, but not in a shield and not in a bend. The bear also appears on 13^th century coins of the city (see below).

The colours are known since the 14^th century, and the arms have never changed since. The arms are also used by the district of Bern and the Canton Bern. To distinguish the arms the canton often uses a floral crown, the city uses a mural crown.

The oldest known description of the arms of Bern dates from the Guglerlied from 1375 :
Berner waffen ist so schnell
mit drin gevarwten strichen;
der ein ist rot, der mittel gel,
darin stat unverblichen
ein ber gar swarz gemalet wol,
rot sind ihn die clawen;
er ist swerzer denn ein kol,
bris er bejagen sol.
(freely translated as : the arms of Bern are so fast, with three painted stripes, the one is red, the middle yellow, in which stands a black bear, with red claws, blacker than a coal, until the hunting begins).