Canton of Bern
Federal capital with Bundeshaus stability—Bern bridges German and French Switzerland while Bernese Alps tourism (Interlaken, Jungfrau) complements government and watchmaking employment.
Canton of Bern hosts Switzerland's federal capital—government functions creating employment stability that private sector volatility cannot match. The Bundeshaus (Federal Palace) anchors administrative city; federal workers, diplomats, and lobbyists concentrate here.
Bern's watchmaking tradition extends beyond capital functions: the canton bridges German and French-speaking Switzerland, with watch manufacturing in Jura foothills. This bilingual character creates cultural complexity that governance must navigate.
The Bernese Alps draw tourism—Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Jungfrau region attracting international visitors seeking Alpine experiences. This natural asset base provides employment beyond government and manufacturing.
As Switzerland's second-largest canton by population, Bern demonstrates how federal capital functions can sustain regional economy without the financial sector concentration that defines Zurich or the pharmaceutical dominance characterizing Basel. Stability—political, economic, cultural—defines Bernese identity more than dynamism.