Beautiful Berne is the captivating capital of Switzerland – and so easily accessible. The city is a perfect point of departure for many marvellous excursion destinations, such as Zermatt, Lucerne, the Jungfraujoch and Lake Geneva. And as a delightful destination in its own right, it offers so much more than many larger cities. Attractive arcades, for example, beautiful boutiques, a historic old town quarter on the River Aare, and, of course, the famous bear pits. Berne can also claim many cultural attractions, and has succeeded in creating a balance between the classic and the contemporary in such fields as music, art and architecture. Highlights include the impressive late Gothic cathedral and the recently-opened Paul Klee Centre dedicated to the great expressionist artist who lived in Berne.