The onion festival that brings tears to your eyes

November is the month during which Bern in Switzerland becomes a hub of onion activity. The Zibelemarit Onion Market dominates the old city, from the Bundesplatz to the railway station.

Visitors will be able to choose from all manner of onions and will be surprised how many different types exist. Those on offer will include red, Spanish, spring, pickled, white and pearl, to name but a few. Other members of the onion family will also make an appearance, such as leeks, shallots and chives, catering to all those who like their food with a bit of bite.

More than 50 tonnes of onions will line the streets of Bern during the festival, and visitors will have the chance to enjoy hot onion soup and onion tarts, to warm holidaymakers from the Alpine breeze which blows in.

But onions aren't all that is on offer. There will be street performers and musicians on hand to entertain, doing improvised performances.