Name: Einsteins Bern: Travel tips for the Swiss capital
Uploaded: 2025-11-18T14:32:05.918Z
Duration: 5 min 31 s
Description: Physicist Albert Einstein only lived in Bern for a short time, where he developed his famous theory of relativity. What traces of him have survived?

Physicist Albert Einstein only lived in Bern for a short time, where he developed his famous theory of relativity. What traces of him have survived?

Bern

The city of Bern, Switzerland, is closely linked to Albert Einstein, who developed his groundbreaking formula E=mc² while living there in the early 20th century. The tour explores significant locations such as Einstein's former apartment, the patent office where he worked, and several benches dedicated to him throughout the city.

Visitors can also learn about Einstein's scientific contributions and personal life at the Einstein Museum and the University of Bern, where he lectured. The museum addresses the impact of his theories, including their connection to nuclear fission and the atomic bomb, as well as Einstein's later advocacy for peace and disarmament.

Einstein's Bern: Travel tips for the Swiss capital

Ever seen this guy? A total superstar of science. That's young Albert Einstein. And I'm sure this looks familiar. The most famous formula in the world. And guess what? Einstein came up with that formula right here in this city. Bern in Switzerland. A tranquil city with just under 150,000 inhabitants. Bern lies in the German-speaking part of the country. Many people think that Zurich is the capital of Switzerland. Not so. Bern is the seat of the parliament and government. Today we're exploring Bern, following in the footsteps of Albert Einstein. Where did he live and work? What does his signature formula mean? And why is it so famous? And how many of these Einstein benches can be found in Bern? Don't worry though, you don't need a physics degree for our little tour. Albert Einstein came to Bern in 1902. At that time the old town looked almost exactly as it does today. It's hardly changed since the 12th century and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Einstein came to Bern in search of a job. Here at the patent office he finally found a well-paid permanent position. He was 22 years old and already had completed his physics degree. But nobody wanted to hire him as a scientist. At the patent office the genius had to evaluate other people's inventions. You might like to visit Einstein's apartment. He lived on the second floor of this building from 1903 to 1905 along with his first wife Mileva and their son. He'd climb these stairs every day after work. Paul Burckhardt from the Einstein Society of Bern shows me the apartment. Bedroom, kitchen, children's room, living room. This was Albert, Mileva and Hans' little kingdom of their own. It had no study and yet it was in this apartment that the famous formula was born. Supported by his wife Mileva. She was a mathematician and Albert could discuss his ideas with her, developing them further. Then in 1905 the hour was nigh. Einstein published not just one but five groundbreaking articles on light, matter and energy. Among them was his special theory of relativity. The formula energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. From 1905 onward Einstein's scientific career slowly gained momentum. But he only became a universally known superstar when he received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1922. Time for a break. My destination is a location called Altes Trammdepot. There is also an Einstein bench here. He looks to be about in his mid to late 20s. I would guess so in the age of his years in Bern. The Altes Trammdepot scores points for its view, its home-brewed beer and its delicious Rösti, a thick potato pancake typically served with fried bacon. I go for the vegetarian option which is served with egg. This is really good. I'm making a short stop at the University of Bern. Here we find our third Einstein bench. In 1908 Einstein rose to the rank of lecturer at the university. You can learn more about Einstein's life story at the Einstein Museum. The wall of mirrors introduces you to Einstein's world of thought. Where does light come from? What is an original? What is a reproduction? What could infinity mean? The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 was a life-changing event for him. This museum also talks about the atomic bomb, a pretty dark topic. In what way is Einstein's theory of relativity connected to the bomb? The formula E equals mc squared says that even tiny amounts of mass can be converted into huge amounts of energy. So that is the principle behind nuclear fission which is the basis for the atomic bomb. But Einstein himself was never directly involved in this program and after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 Einstein was deeply shaken and he was devastated and really regretted the use of that bomb. Back then he became an even stronger advocate for peace and disarmament and he kept on warning the world of the devastating power of nuclear weapons. In front of the Einstein Museum we find the fourth bench dedicated to the superstar of physics. And this is where our tour ends. So whose footsteps should we follow next? Where do you want us to go?

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