Now, as the Aare leaves Bern it first heads west and then south through 
Aarberg … soon afterwards it drops into lake Biel with the border city of Biel/Bienna sitting to the southeastern side.
Biel/Bienna is a bilingual city in the canton of Bern. It’s the 10th largest city in Switzerland (55,000 residents with 100,000 in the entire area.)
Some cities in Switzerland that are bilingual carry two names such as Biel/Bienna ….Fribourg/Freiburg…Murten/Morat or Disentis/Mustér. Even Luzern might be spelled Lucerne. It’s no big deal – it’s just this way in a country that speaks German, French, Italian and Romansh do things – oh yeah English too.
Biel/Bienna sits on the border of the French and German speaking areas and therefore it carries a double name.
I’ve been to Biel/Bienna several times as our football team the Thun Tigers have played against the Bienna Jets there a few times. I also have friends who live there and with it’s pretty lake it’s a nice place to visit.
With its dual language and proximity to France it’s not unusual to hear French spoken in many areas. To me, it’s no big deal – since I know neither German or French. However, I will tell you it can ‘feel’ a little different with the two different languages being blended in with English.
Biel/Bienna is an industrial city and it does look that way. It is also the heart of the Swiss watch making business and has existed that way since the 19th century. Think Rolex, Swatch, Omega.
Biel/Bienna referred to as the “world capital of watchmaking!”
I know my younger son Corey likes his watches … however, I don’t think there is a Rolex wholesale place where I can get an inexpensive watch for him. Hell, I got him a Swatch watch in Luzern (something from outer space) for him and it cost me an arm and a leg??!!
The lake and surrounding area is truly nice as it lies right at the base of the Jura Mountains which gives it a fantastic backdrop.
Just another great place to visit as we continue along the Aare!