In 1405 Bern suffered a heavy loss when most of the city was burned to the ground. Reconstruction in sandstone began immediately, and by the 16th and 17th. In 1528, followers of Zwingli introduced the Reformation in Bern. Bern became a university city in 1834, and in 1848 it was chosen to be the Federal Capital of Switzerland by the 1st National Swiss Parliament. Bern is both the capital of the Canton of Bern and the seat of the Swiss government.
The bear featured on the present city coat of arms first appeared in 1224. According to legend, the city was named after the first animal killed by the Duke while hunting during the construction of the city.
In the 13th century, Bern was expanded towards the west, and the Prison Tower formed the new main gate In the 14th century, the third and final expansion phase of the city took place up to the present main railway station. In 1353 Bern became the eighth member of the “Confederation” and was regarded in the late Middle Ages as the biggest and most powerful city-state north of the Alps.