| Best Fribourg Travel Deals | Sponsored Links |
Fribourg Hotels
Get Discounts on Fribourg hotels! Compare Photos, Hotel Info & Rates. Zurich Hotel
Hotel Photos, Info & Virtual Tours Book with Expedia and Save! 750 Hotels in Switzerland
Book a hotel in Switzerland online. Great rates. No reservation costs!
| Reviews and photos of Fribourg attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Fribourg sightseeing. Fribourg Map |
 | Fribourg Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 59 |  |
Friendly Fribourg's tourist office is beside the station – turn right as you come out. Here you can find the city maps, plenty of booklets and souvenirs. Walk along Ave de la Gare from the train station leaving the Romanesque church on your left and 3 minutes later you will reach the grassy open Grands-Places. Here you can see one of Jean Tinguely’s famous fountains (1984). The St-Pierre street leads east to the busy Place Python passing Le Migros supermarket on St-Pierre 2, and Le Coop on St-Pierre 6 (both open Mon – Wed 8 – 19, Thu 8 – 21, Sat 8 – 16). From here turn left along steeply rising Rue St-Michel up to the atmospheric medieval Collège St-Michel (now part of the Fribourg University). Behind the collage you will find a terrace from where you can look out over the city. University sport complex on you left has free public washrooms. From the right part of the terrace ancient covered steps, the Escaliers du Collège, lead down to join the lower end of Rue de Lausanne and Place de Nova-Friburgo. It is the Bourg , the Old Town’s most historically important and prestigious district, home to the cathedral, numerous churches, the town hall and an array of mansions.
Cross the square and walk down towards the late-Gothic Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), a beautiful building dating from 1501–22, whose double exterior staircase was added in 1663. St George spears the dragon on a fountain statue dating from 1525 in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville square in front of the Town Hall.
Fribourg’s landmark is the towering, High Gothic Cathédrale St-Nicolas, just off Place Notre-Dame. Unlike many other famous cathedrals, it has only one tower but an awesome one. Built over a church dating from the city’s foundation in 1157, the present building was begun in 1283, and took two centuries to complete. On the main portal you will see the scenes from the Last Judgement. Don’t miss the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, to the right of the door as you come in. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Fribourg?
Read reviews about Fribourg Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
From Planche-Supérieure, passing St-John the Baptist church, the triple-arched Pont de St-Jean leads you up into Neuveville e.g. the New Town (well, it started to build up in the 17th century). After the bridge, you will find another lively fountain on your right and amazing antique store on your left (fantastic selection and unbelievably low prices). Neuveville is one of the most peaceful and picturesque area of the city.
From the Neuveville the ancient cobbled Rue de la Grand-Fontaine heads sharply up towards the Hôtel de Ville. Catch your breath and turn left here. Rue des Alpes, supported on pillars above Neuveville, leads you back to Place Python; its valley-side railings offer wonderful views of the river.
Fribourg is definitely a walking city, but if the hills are too steep for you (or you ran out of time) than you may want to take advantage of bus No. 4; it runs every 15 minutes or so, starting at the train station, running down all the way through the Old Town to Place du Petit-St-Jean, then over the Pont de Berne to beneath the Pont de Zaehringen, before turning round and crossing the Pont de Berne and Pont de Milieu to the Planche- Supérieure and the Pont de St-Jean, and running through Neuveville on its way back up to the station again. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Return back to the Loyalty Fountain. Rue des Forgerons heads east into the Gottéron gorge, beneath the immensely graceful modern Pont de Gottéron some 60m up. On the south side of the stream, a footpath leads up to the minuscule Chapel de St-Beat hugging the rocky walls of the gorge, but the road itself leads along the northern bank of the stream. If you have enough time than you can follow it into the forest for as long as you like, past old mills and cottages; the romantic riverside trail is well marked and maintained.
Now let’s return back to the Place du Petit-St-Jean. The Pont de Milieu leads southwest to the Planche-Supérieure, below the mighty precipices cut by the Sarine River. A fountain statue of John the Baptist (1547) overlooks the square. Dominating the square is picturesque old granary (1708). Cafés on the square offer incredible panoramas across the valley to the backs of the Grand’Rue mansions. Stepped paths from the square climb south up to the ridge-side Porte de Bourguillon and, beside it on a lofty terrace, the Loretto Chapel, an ornate little building built in 1648 that offers spectacular vistas out over the whole city. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Walk around the cathedral (there is a fountain behind it) and follow the Grand’Rue towards the Pont de Zaehringen. To the right from the bridge, there is another terrace with fantastic view over the Sarine river, the ramparts and the bridges. It’s a great place for picnic (you should buy a sandwich or a pastry at Le Coop or Le Migros on your way here).
Returning from the terrace, follow the steep Rue de la Lenda down to the lower quarter of the Lower Town, known as Auge. This district, absorbed into the city as early as the 1160s, is the oldest in Fribourg outside the Zähringens’ original fortress. It’s full of atmosphere, with its cobbled streets and old Gothic houses and inns; the sense of community surviving in such ancient surroundings is what really marks Fribourg out as being special. On your left at Rue des Augustins, is the Église des Augustins, part of a monastery founded in the mid-thirteenth century, with impressive later Baroque decoration.
Following along the Rue de la Samaritane, you pass the Samaritaine Fountain, and arrive at the Place du Petit-St-Jean. The square is the local hub, ringed by cafés overlooked from the fountain by St Anne, the patron saint of the tanners who used to live here.
Northeast from the Place du Petit-St-Jean is the picturesque covered wooden bridge - Pont de Berne, leading to the ancient Rue des Forgerons (Street of the Blacksmiths) on the east bank of the river. The little bridgehead square, one of Fribourg’s prettiest, holds the celebrated Loyalty Fountain (1553). To the left is the Porte de Berne, a city gate dating from 1270 that has somehow clung on to its original doors. Behind the gate, turn right and follow up the ancient covered steps along the ramparts to the Tours des Chais – view from the tower area is breathtaking. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
You'll find a rich collection of art and objects of historical importance that date from Fribourg's origins to the present day in the museum. Three distinct sections make up a beautiful architectural grouping – the Ratze Mansion , the old slaughter house and the building designed for temporary exhibitions. The Ratze Mansion houses the biggest Swiss collection of sculptures from the first half of the 16th C. In the former slaughterhouse, you'll find work by Delacroix, Courbet, Marcello, Hodler, Crotti, and Tinguely. Adults: CHF 6 Tue – Wed, Fri – Sun 11 – 18, Thu 11 – 20. Leave a Comment Address: Rue de Morat 12
|
Visiting Fribourg?
Read reviews about Fribourg Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Fribourg is well known and appreciete for its cheese quality as the Gruyère, my favorite since I have teeth ;-), and the Vacherin, for example.
Do not miss the occasion to taste these local delight by eating a Fondue moitié-moitié (half Gruyère-half Vacherin).
Here you will find the secret Swiss recipe to make your own Fondue or just go to a traditional Swiss restaurant...
You need a special pot called a "caquelon" to prepare a fondue. Once the fondue is ready, the caquelon is set up on the table on a small burner. Keep the fondue on a constant heat, but make sure it does not overheat. We use special forks with long handles to dip the bread in the molten cheese.
Ingredients (for 4 cheese amateurs):
* 1 clove of garlic
* 800g of cheese mixture (400g Gruyere and 400g Emmantaler, for the classic “moitie-moitie” (half and half) fondue.) You may also vary the mixture of cheese depending on your taste.
* Dry white wine, such as Fendant du Valais
* Freshly ground pepper
* Flour, maizena or potato starch
* Bicarbonate of soda
* Kirsch Liqueur
* French bread cubes, about 1 inch in size with crust on at least 1 side.
Preparation & Service
1) Rub a clove of garlic against a fondue dish (you can leave the garlic in the fondue dish).
2) Add 4 dl of dry white wine and let it warm at a low temperature. When the wine boils, put 800g of grated cheese and mix it continuously at a medium-high temperature until it reaches boiling point.
3) Let this mixture cook for another minute or two and then add the binding agent (see below).
4) Season with pepper and serve as soon as possible. Be sure that the cheese is kept warm at a low temperature while serving.
To bind the fondue:
1) Mix the following ingredients in a glass: 4 or 5 teaspoons of maizena, potato starch or flour.
2) Add one teaspoon of Kirsch (1 teaspoon = 1 person) and a pinch of bicarbonate of soda.
Once the cheese mixture is finally mixed and melted, pour it slowly into the fondue pot and serve.
Bon appetit ! Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Crossing the Middle bridge going west, to your left there is a vast cliff, that seems to climb forever to the sky. Almost hidden at the base of the cliff is what appears to be a building housing a power generation system using the force of the water from the river. Now look to your right as you cross the bridge, but take care, there is traffic and no sidewalk.
Let your eyes gaze on the cliffs to the right of the river and realise that those houses are many stories in height as they overlook the river. Also consider that it is the very same hill that we have just descended, from the general area of the Town Hall and St Nicholas' Cathedral. Photos 1, 2 and 3 give some idea of the houses and oter buildings on the edge. Photo 4 is one of the fountains and number 5 is the funicular seen from a seat at the front of the train, awaiting lift off. No problems Houston.
The path follows the river as we walk back to the base of the Funicular railway, the easy way back to the City Centre. Trees tend to obscure the view of those houses built on the very edge of the cliff. I wonder how many fell into the river in time of flood?
The valley bottom is not flat, a small hill needs climbing and yet another church to check out, another bridge across the river, St John's Bridge, at the far end one more of the Historic Fountains.
I have to pass on a thought to you, while it was a great idea to take the funicular, one of the oddities is that the price of the ride is for 3 tickets, so the tourist pays for 3 and rides once. No complaint really the cost for the 3 trips was only 1.60 SW F. No, I did not ride up and down and then up again.
The funicualrwas inaugurated in 1899 but is the last of its kind in Europe. The system runs on water, in as much as the two cars counterbalance each other, the motivation is from the water and presumably gravity. Leave a Comment Address: River bottom west of Middle Bridge to the northDirections: View the old town see the growth thru those Middle Ages. Fribourg inaugurated in the 1200's has a population of 35,000. There are 200 Gothic Style houses and mansions combining German Baroque and French Classicism styles of Architecture.Website: www.fribourgtourism.ch
|
| | |
Leaving the view point at the Zahringen Bridge, I retraced my steps to the Grand Rue Stalden and hence down passing two more of the 11 historical fountains to arrive at Place du Petit St Jean.
This is one of the lowest points on the walk, I mean in elevation not in my physical or mental well being. To the east there are pleasant views across the river, that include the Covered wooden bridge, the ramparts and the two level Zahringen bridge, way downstream of this view point.
The Place du Petit St Jean, allowed for a rest or a coffee, as well as the opportunities to take many photos and to explore the area. If you want to quit now there is a bus service that will take you back to the train station.
From this area, you can walk over the wooden bridge, gaze downstream and see the higher newer bridge, look for the big bighole in the cliff where someone has built a spider's web, check out the cats that live in the area, consider climbing back up the hill, take the bus or continue on the west across the other bridge, the Middle bridge. Leave a Comment Address: Place Du Petit St Jean at the bend in the river.Directions: Maybe half way around the walking tour of the historic area of Fribourg.Website: www.fribourgtourism.ch
|
| | |
The activity is part of a walking tour of at least some of the historic places in Fribourg.
Heading east and following the yellow road highlighted on the map by the staff at the Tourist office, one quickly walks along the lesser interesting streets, Avenue de la Gare and Rue de Romont crossing Place Georges Python and beginning to follow Rue de Lausanne as it descends towards St Nicholas' Cathedral and approaches the river Sarine.
Photo shows the Tower of the Cathedral above the roof tops of the houses.
I learn from the map, which is a mine of information, that there are 368 steps to the top of the Tower. The Cathedral was built between the 13th and the 17th Centuries. It also states the opening hours.
Remaining photos show various scenes in the area of Place Notre Dame and Rue des Epouses. Leave a Comment Address: Roads and lanes east of Place George Python.Directions: Part one of several parts of a walking visit to the historic areas of FribourgWebsite: www.fribourgtourism.ch
|
| | |
Brasserie Artisanale de Fribourg
Open on saturday 8:00 - 18:00
You can buy Homemade BEER ........
There are 3 kinds of beeer: Barbeblanche (Ale), Barberousse (Red) and Old Cat (Stout).
I tasted Barberousse and Old Cat: VERY GOOD!! Leave a Comment Directions: Rue de la Samaritaine 19 Case postale 159 CH-1707 FribourgOther Contact: Tel +41 (0)26/322 80 88
|
|
|
on June 11, 2003
on August 24, 2005
on November 5, 2006
on September 8, 2002
