Bear pit

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Bear baiting in a bear pit during the 18th century (engraving, 1796).
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Bear baiting in a bear pit during the 18th century (engraving, 1796).

A bear pit was historically used to display bears, typically for entertainment and especially bear baiting. The pit area was normally surrounded by a high fence, above which the spectators would look down on the bears.

An example is the bear pit at Sheffield Botanical Gardens in England. This was used to house two bears until the 1870s. It is now grade II listed.

Another bear pit still in use is in Berne (Switzerland)

Bears in the Bärengraben in Berne (Switzerland).
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Bears in the Bärengraben in Berne (Switzerland).

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