First mentioned in the 12th century, Bienne continued for centuries to be under the jurisdiction of the prince-bishop of Basel.
He took refuge on an island in the lake of Bienne, only to be expelled by the authorities of Berne.
The first stop was at Biel or Bienne, its French name, and there was a halt of ten minutes or more.
Some of the Swiss lake-dwellings of Neuchatel and Bienne belong to this epoch.
I used so much diligence that the next morning I left the island and arrived at Bienne before noon.
