The sovereign happiness of a Bernese citizen is to belong to the Council of 200, voila the verdict of Jean Rodolphe Sinner de Ballaigues in 1781. The life of the Bernese people was indeed about politics at the time. But the people of Berne were also interested in other forms of conviviality, especially when it took place in such charming places as those of the Grandes Ecoles. Here one could drink, dine, discuss, read and, above all, enjoy friendly encounters. This was also part of the sovereign happiness. So what a joy it is that precisely this tradition has been preserved.
The French language is cultivated within the Circle. Today, this tradition aims to preserve consideration and respect for the French language, but also to facilitate cultural and intellectual exchanges between all regions of Switzerland. In addition to French, German, Italian and English are also spoken.
The statutes, revised in 1995, describe the purpose of the Cercle de la Grande Société de Berne as follows: “Since its foundation in 1759, the Cercle has had the goal of preserving and continuing the secular Bernese tradition. It is based on respect for ethical and historical values and on an interest in the Res Publica. The Cercle offers its members a meeting place in the traditional style that enables them to cultivate friendly, social, intellectual and cultural relations at national and international level. This simple objective is also the programme at the beginning of the 21st century.