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The town is located in the north eastern shores of Lake Biel (Bielersee). The city of Bern lies southeast of Biel/Bienne. The origin of the town has been traced to the times when Celts settled in the region. At the time it was called Belenus. The Romans later inhabited the area. The town itself was built in the 11th century, and in 1275 it was chartered.
Biel/Bienne was under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Basel for hundreds of years. In 1279 the town entered an alliance with Bern which was made permanent in 1352. In 1798 Biel/Bienne was invaded by French troops. After Napoleon's collapse, the town became a part of the Canton of Bern in 1815.
About two thirds of the population speak German, about one third French. The town is officially bilingual, an attribute shared only with a handful of small villages. In recent years the town has used its bilingualism as an an economic advantage. Many call centres are located in or around Biel to make use of the two languages. The main industries of the town, however, are watchmaking and the manufacture of machinery.
The town centre of Biel/Bienne features a Gothic church which dates from 1451Events February 3 Murad II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire dies and is succeeded by his son Mehmed II. April 11 Celje acquires market-town status and town rights by orders from the Celje count Frederic II. June 30 French troops under the Comte de Dunois inv. The town hall dates from 1534Events May 10 Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. June 9 Jacques Cartier is the first European to discover the St. Lawrence River. July 7 First known exchange between Europeans and natives of the Gulf of St.. The population is an estimated 51,900.
Biel is a municipality (pop. 244) in the SpanishThe Kingdom of Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. It inc province of ZaragozaZaragoza (also called Saragossa in English) is a province of northern Spain, in the central part of the autonomous community of Aragon. It is bordered by the provinces of Lleida, Tarragona, Teruel, Guadalajara, Soria, La Rioja, Navarra, and Huesca. Its ca, in the autonomous community of AragonComunidad Autonoma de Aragon Capital Zaragoza Area total % of Spain Ranked 4th 47 719 kmē 9,4% Population Total (2003) % of Spain Density Ranked 11th 1 217 514 2,9% 25,51/kmē Demonym English Spanish Aragonese aragones Statute of Autonomy August 16, 1982 I.
Cities in Switzerland