The city's flag was originally white with the bear in its current diagonal position.

After the battle of Schlosshalde in 1289, the flag was changed to its current red and yellow form.

The red in the new flag is sometimes said to represent the blood of the men who died in that battle defending the old banner.

The first documented evidence of a Bern flag is in 1208, and the current one certainly dates from no later than 1365.