Fribourg - The University Town
A miraculous medieval townscape is Fribourg / Freiburg which shows a blend from French and German culture. Fribourg, founded in 1157 is the capital of the Canton of the same name which is also bilingual. Students are coming from all corners of the world and give the small town in the west of Switzerland a cozy as well as a cosmopolitan atmosphere. 
The river Saane (in French Sarine) forms the language boundary. To the West of the river, one speaks French, and to the East German. All road signs in the whole Canton are bilingual. The lively University town enchants with one of the nicest medieval townscapes of Switzerland. The most striking building is the former Augustinian Monastery. The Mauritius church in the Monastery, which was built around 1311 still features a great barock high altar as well as other nice rococo altars. It is limited to the north as well as to the south because of the steep hills. The Unterstadt (lower town) form the town quarter called Neuveville on the left and Planche on the right shore of the Sarine River. Places of Interest Place de l'Hôtel de Ville The main attraction of Fribourg is the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville in the Old Town with the city hall, constructed between 1501 - 1522 from G. Aetterli and Hans Felder. The clock tower and the free stair to it originated around 1660. The nice curve relief’s in the main entrance was built in 1881. Worth seeing is the big council in the Louis Seize style and the splendor table of Hans Gieng built in 1546. The hall of "the lost steps" owns Gothic cross floor windows, one with a crucifix of M. Gramp from Lindau by Lake Constance. Cathedral The dominating 76 m high incomplete tower signals the cathedral St-Nicolas which originated in stages from 1283 to approximately 1630. Nevertheless, she offers a highly Gothic picture. Above the impressive main entrance hang valuable paintings from the 14 / 15-th century. Noteworthy is also the south main entrance which has works of Maria with the holy Nicola and the holy three kings from around 1330. Of special interest is the pulpit of Hans von Zürich, 1516, the baptism stone, 1498, the choral grid, 1474, the choral stalls of A. Peneys, 1464, the holy grave chapel with valuable tombs, 1433, and glass paintings of Jozef Mehoffer from 1869 - 1946. Notre-Dame Close to the Place de Notre-Dame is the Samson fountain from Hans Gieng constructed in 1547. Right beside it is the church Notre-Dame originating from around 1200. The several times reshaped church received its barock-classicistic facade from 1785 - 1787. Musée d'Art et d'Histoire The Ratzehof, constructed 1584 for the commander of the Swiss Guard in Lyons, accommodates the museum for art and history. (Open Tues. - Sun. 11:00 - 18:00, Thurs. 11:00 - 20:00). There, many works from plastics to paintings from the 10. - 19-th century can be admired. A passage leads to the former slaughterhouse (1938) in which among others sculptures of the cathedral and works by Tinquely are presented. Train station square In the southwest of the upper town lies the newer train station quarter with the Grand-Places which offer a nice look over the Old Town and the river Sarine. The Tinquelys fountain called "Jo Siffert" reminds here from Fribourg coming Formula-one racing driver who died in an accident in 1971. In the "Passage du Cardinal", a beer museum is accommodated in the cellars of the Cardinal brewery. (Open Tues - Thur. 14:00 - 18:00) Espace Jean Tinquely - Niki de Saint Phalle In a former streetcar depot, a museum dedicated to Jean Tinquely born in 1925 in Fribourg (deceded in 1991) was furnished. You can also works of his wife Niki de Saint-Phalle. The museum is open from Wed. - Sun. 11:00 - 18:00, Thu. until 20:00. High-End Restaurants Auberge de la Cigogne Restaurant Hôtel de VilleGrand-Rue 6 However, the wine card could really extend a bit more. The service is quick which goes perfectly to the atmosphere of the restaurant. Du Grand Pont Fribourg Hotels This small town of barely 33,000 inhabitants doesn't have any 5-star accommodation. However, there are a few good 4-star hotels worth staying. Au Parc Hotel Hôtel-Restaurant du Golf de la Gruyère However, the hotel has only twelve personalized rooms, a restaurant for 60 persons with excellent first-class international gourmet cuisine. The views from the panoramic terrace set the Hôtel-Restaurant du Golf de la Gruyère in a must to stay place. Return from Fribourg to Swiss Cities Return from Fribourg to High-End-Travel-Switzerland |
More than 200 Gothic buildings are maintained, and there are numerous town houses that combines German baroque with French classism.