Mountain West Conference and Biel/Bienne: Difference between pages
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{{Redirect|Biel}}
{{Infobox Swiss town
| subject_name = Biel/Bienne
| municipality_name = Biel/Bienne
| municipality_type = City
| imagepath_coa = Wappen_biel.png|pixel_coa=
| map =
| languages = German
| canton = Berne
| iso-code-region = CH-BE
| district = [[Biel (district)|Biel/Bienne]]
| lat_d=47|lat_m=08|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=15|long_EW=E
| postal_code = 2500-2510
| municipality_code = 0371
| area = 21.20
| elevation = 434|elevation_description=
| population = 50295|populationof=December 2004
| website = www.biel-bienne.ch
| mayor = Hans Stöckli (Socialist)|mayor_asof=|mayor_party=
| mayor_title = |list_of_mayors =
| places =
| demonym =
| neighboring_municipalities= [[Brügg]], [[Ipsach]], [[Leubringen/Magglingen]] (''Evilard/Macolin''), [[Nidau]], [[Orpund]], [[Orvin]], [[Pieterlen]], [[Port, Berne|Port]], [[Safnern]], [[Tüscherz-Alfermée]], [[Vauffelin]]
| twintowns = [[Iserlohn]] (Germany)
|}}
'''Biel/Bienne''' is a city in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Canton of Berne|Berne]] in [[Switzerland]].
It is located on the language boundary and is throughout [[bilingual]]. ''Biel'' is the [[German language|German]] name for the town, ''Bienne'' its [[French language|French]] counterpart. The town is often referred to in both languages simultaneously. Since [[January 1]], [[2005]], the official name is "Biel/Bienne".
The city lies at the foot of the first mountain range of the [[Jura Mountains]] area, guarding the only practical connection to Jura in the area, on the northeastern shores of [[Lake Biel]] (''[[Bielersee]]'', ''[[Lac de Bienne]]''), sharing the eastern tip of the lake with its sister city, [[Nidau]], the administrative centre of the [[Nidau (district)|District of Nidau]]. [[Neuchâtel]], [[Solothurn]] & [[Bern|Berne]] (the [[capital]] of [[Switzerland]]) lie west, east and southeast of Biel/Bienne, all less than 30 minutes away, either by train or car.
==History==
The origin of the city has been traced to the times when [[Celt]]s settled in the region. At the time it was called [[Belenus]], after a Celtic deity. The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] later inhabited the area. The township itself was built in the [[11th century]], and in 1275 it was chartered.
Biel/Bienne has remained under the jurisdiction of the [[Bishop of Basel]] for hundreds of years. In 1279 the town entered an alliance with Berne which was made permanent in 1352. There have been several conflicts between the inhabitants of Biel/Bienne and the Bishop of Basel [[Reform]].
In 1798 Biel/Bienne was invaded by French troops. After [[Napoleon]]'s collapse, the town became a part of the [[Canton of Bern|Canton of Berne]], in 1815.
==Language==
About 60% speak [[German language|German]], about 40% [[French language|French]]. The city is officially bilingual (the biggest bilingual city in Switzerland). In addition some 150 nationalities are represented in Biel/Bienne. In recent years the city has wisely used its linguistic assets as an economic advantage, becoming the Swiss ''City of Communication'', including several call centres that have been created in or around Biel/Bienne, in addition to the traditional businesses established in the city and surrounding area, which have always exported most of their production worldwide.
==Main sights==
The town centre of Biel/Bienne features a [[Gothic church]] which dates from 1451. The town hall dates from 1534. The population is an estimated 51,900.
==Business==
The city and its neighbourhood thrive on precision and micro mechanics, the conception and manufacture of highly specialised production oriented machinery and tools, products exported worldwide, next to Swiss Made Watches of the well known & reputed Watch Brands located in the city and its vicinity.
*[[Rolex]] have since the beginning established and run their movement & technical parts production centres in the city, also
*[[Swatch Group]] have their Group & several Brands headquarters, especially [[Omega]] & [[Swatch]] here, as well as
*The [[Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH]]
==Culture==
The newspapers ''[[Bieler Tagblatt]]'' and ''[[Journal du Jura]]'' as well as the only totally bilingual German/French newspaper ''[[Biel-Bienne]]'' with its large free distribution within the greater area, are published in Biel/Bienne.
The city is also known for its annual ''International [[Chess]] Festival''.
The city of Biel/Bienne has received the [[Wakker Prize]] in 2004.
Each June since 1959, Biel/Bienne hosts a [[Biel/Bienne_100_km|100 km]] [[Ultramarathon]] race, which is among the biggest races of its kind worldwide and forms a part of the [[European_Ultramarathon_Cup|European Ultramarathon Cup]].
==Sport==
*[[EHC Biel]], the professional ice hockey team
*FC Biel-Bienne, the soccer club funded in 1896
== Twinning ==
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Iserlohn]], [[Germany]] since [[1959]]
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Swiss-bienne-city-1.JPG|[[Lake Biel]]
Image:Parc municipal2005.JPG|town's park
Image:CH Biel Schüss.JPG|[[La Suze]] river
Image:CH Biel Altstadt-8.JPG
Image:Biel.jpg|Place du Ring
Image:CH Biel Altstadt-2.JPG
Image:CH Biel Altstadt-6.jpg
Image:Tuerme auf der Arteplage Biel der Expo.02.jpg|[[Expo 02]]
</gallery>
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.biel-bienne.ch Official website of Biel/Bienne]
*{{HDS|222}}
*[http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/ Biel/Bienne International Chess Festival]
*[http://www.fhs.ch/en/ Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH]
;Maps
{{Geolinks-CH-cityscale|47.133333|7.250000}}
{{Municipalities of the district of Biel}}
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Berne]]
[[als:Biel/Bienne]]
[[br:Biel/Bienne]]
[[de:Biel/Bienne]]
[[es:Biel-Bienne]]
[[fr:Bienne]]
[[it:Bienna]]
[[hu:Biel]]
[[nl:Biel (stad)]]
[[no:Biel/Bienne]]
[[pl:Biel (miasto)]]
[[pt:Bienna]]
[[ro:Biel/Bienne]]
[[ru:Биль (город)]]
[[simple:Biel]]
[[sv:Biel (kommun, CH-BE)]]
[[vo:Biel-Bienne]]
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