Erlach (French: Cerlier) is the capital municipality of the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Berne in Switzerland.

A Roman road runs along the southern foot of the hills, between Lake Biel and the town of Petinesca (now Studen).

In 1264/66 Erlach received a Handfeste or document of rights from Count Rudolf II of Neuchâtel-Nidau.

Around 1100 the Benedictine Erlach Abbey was founded on Saint Peter's Island (actually a peninsula).

The only remaining city gate, currently part of the Rathaus or town hall, is from this era.

Based on the rights granted by Rudolf II, Erlach had a mayor and until 1798 a 12-member town council with a 6–18 member advisory body.

In 1848, during the foundation of the Federal State, Erlach Castle became the district seat.

The town's economy was diverse and included agriculture, vineyards on the sunny south-facing hillsides, fishing and transportation on Lake Biel.

[6] Erlach is located on Lake Biel at 433 m (1,421 ft) above sea level.

The highest point in Erlach is Jolimont, which is 603 m (1,978 ft) above sea level.

The municipality includes the castle, as well as the old city, the market, part of St. Peter's Island, the newer city along the lake shoreline, the village Sunkort, and the exclave Wald on Jolimont mountain.

[7] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules an Alder Tree eradicated Or leaved Vert between a Crescent and a Mullet of the second.

[11] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (1,006 or 89.6%) as their first language, French is the second most common (41 or 3.7%) and Albanian is the third (21 or 1.9%).

The historical population is given in the following chart:[4][14] The highest point in Erlach is Jolimont which is 603 m (1,978 ft) above sea level.

The Sankt-Petersinsel (St. Peter Island), really a peninsula, can be reached from Erlach by foot or by bicycle.

[4] The Rathaus (Town council house) and Erlach Castle are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance.

The entire old town of Erlach is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

In the tertiary sector; 50 or 25.0% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 39 or 19.5% were in a hotel or restaurant, 5 or 2.5% were the insurance or financial industry, 7 or 3.5% were technical professionals or scientists, 17 or 8.5% were in education and 43 or 21.5% were in health care.

[11] From the 2000 census[update], 166 or 14.8% were Roman Catholic, while 739 or 65.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship.