en Subdivisions of the canton of Bern

On 1 January 2010, the 26 districts (German: Amtsbezirke, French: districts) of the Canton of Bern were combined into 10 new precincts (German: Verwaltungskreise, French: arrondissement administratif).^[1]

They are grouped into five regions (German: Verwaltungsregionen).

The existence of the 26 districts remains through the laws and Constitution of the Canton of Berne (Art.3 al.2 Cst) and coexists with the new 10 precincts (German: Verwaltungskreise, French: arrondissement administratif). Although the original districts no longer serve any purpose.

As of 2022^[update] there were 338 municipalities of the canton of Bern.

Precincts 2010

New district (Verwaltungskreis)	Capital	Region	Former district(s) (Amtsbezirk)
Bern-Mittelland	Ostermundigen	Bern-Mittelland	Bern, Fraubrunnen, Konolfingen, Laupen, Schwarzenburg and Seftigen
Biel/Bienne	Biel/Bienne	Seeland	Biel and about half of Nidau
Emmental	Langnau im Emmental	Emmental-Oberaargau	Burgdorf, Signau and Trachselwald
Frutigen-Niedersimmental	Frutigen	Bernese Oberland	Frutigen and Niedersimmental
Interlaken-Oberhasli	Interlaken	Bernese Oberland	Interlaken and Oberhasli
Jura Bernois	Courtelary	Jura Bernois Region	Courtelary, Moutier and La Neuveville
Oberaargau	Wangen an der Aare	Emmental-Oberaargau	Aarwangen and Wangen
Obersimmental-Saanen	Saanen	Bernese Oberland	Obersimmental and Saanen
Seeland	Aarberg	Seeland	Aarberg, Büren, Erlach and about half of Nidau
Thun	Thun	Bernese Oberland	Thun

Districts

The canton of Bern is also subdivided into 26 districts (German: Amtsbezirke; French: districts), which have no more administrative or political significance since the introduction of the new larger administrative subdivisions listed above.

The districts are:

Aarberg with capital Aarberg
Aarwangen with capital Aarwangen
Bern with capital Bern
Biel with capital Biel
Büren with capital Büren an der Aare
Burgdorf with capital Burgdorf
Courtelary with capital Courtelary
Erlach with capital Erlach
Fraubrunnen with capital Fraubrunnen
Frutigen with capital Frutigen
Interlaken with capital Interlaken
Konolfingen with capital Konolfingen
Laupen with capital Laupen
Moutier with capital Moutier
La Neuveville with capital La Neuveville
Nidau with capital Nidau
Niedersimmental with capital Wimmis
Oberhasli with capital Meiringen
Obersimmental with capital Blankenburg
Saanen with capital Saanen
Schwarzenburg with capital Schwarzenburg
Seftigen with capital Belp
Signau with capital Langnau im Emmental
Thun with capital Thun
Trachselwald with capital Trachselwald
Wangen with capital Wangen an der Aare

Maps 1978 - 2010

Amtsbezirke until 31 December 1978
Amtsbezirke until 31 December 1993
Amtsbezirke until 31 December 2009

Notes and references

^ Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009 (PDF) (Report). Federal Statistical Office. 2009. nden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.

[fusion2-1] Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009 (PDF) (Report). Federal Statistical Office. 2009. nden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.

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