The Universal Postal Union is one of the world’s oldest international organizations. The arm of the Union is to foster the development of international postal services.

It was founded in 1874 at Berne, the federal capital of Switzerland, where its central organ, the International Bureau, has become located. Due to the increase of UPU’s activities a new headquarters, big enough to meet the Union’s requirements for many years to cover, were opened in 1970 at Oberes Murifield, Berne, about a mile from the previous headquarters.