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Fribourg - Freiburg

Fribourg (German: Freiburg) is a canton located in western Switzerland. The canton spans from the Swiss Plateau to the Pre-Alps in the south. There are 237 named peaks in Fribourg. The tallest and most prominent peak is Vanil Noir at 2,389 m (7,838 ft) tall with 1,112 m (3,648 ft) of prominence.

Fribourg, Switzerland

Geography

Fribourg lies in western Switzerland and marks one of the country’s 26 cantons. The canton spans 1.671 sq. km (645 sq. miles) across the region.

Fribourg, Switzerland

Lake Neuchâtel marks the northwestern boundary of the canton while the canton of Vaud is to the west and the south. Just a few kilometers west of the canton’s border lies Lake Geneva, though the canton does not technically reach its shores. The canton of Bern spans along the eastern edge of Fribourg.

Fribourg has two enclaves within Vaud and one exclave within Bern. On Lake Neuchâtel lies a large exclave of the canton. The geographic features in the canton vary greatly depending on the region.

A majority of the canton lies on the Swiss Plateau, which defines much of northern Switzerland. Lands in the west of the canton, around Lake Neuchâtel, are generally more flat and feature rolling hills. In the southeastern portion of the canton, elevations change as the land transitions into the pre-Alps.

Fribourg, Switzerland

Though this region is often referred to as the pre-Alps, the land actually marks a portion of the Bernese Alps that primarily extend throughout the canton of Bern. Mountains in the southern stretches of the canton are occasionally referred to as the Vaud Alps, a subsection of the Bernese Alps.

The tallest peaks within the canton can be found in the southern section, marking the transition from the Swiss Plateau into the Alps. Here, forested hillsides begin to thin as elevations increase, giving way to sweeping alpine fields and rugged mountain ridgelines.

Saane river, Fribourg, Switzerland

Major bodies of water include the river Saane which flows from south to north, draining most of the lands in the canton before joining with the river Aare. Other major rivers include the Broye which flows into Lake Morat and the river Veveyse which flows into Lake Geneva.

Additionally, Fribourg is home to a number of parks and recreation areas. A few major parks in the canton include Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park and a small portion of Gantrisch Nature Park.

Geology

As a canton, Fribourg has a diverse geological history and features multiple distinct geological regions. Here’s a quick overview of the major geological regions in the canton.

Fribourg, Switzerland

Bernese Alps

The peaks and ridgelines found in the southern portion of the canton are part of the Bernese Alps, a subrange of the larger Alps. The tallest peaks in the canton lie within this region.

As a whole, the Alps mark the tallest mountain range that lies entirely within Europe. The range was formed during the Alpine orogeny, a major mountain building event that occurred between 65 million and 2 million years ago.

Prior to formation of the range, the Tethys Ocean lay between the supercontinents of Laurasia and Gondwana, present day Africa and Europe. As the tectonic plates began to move towards one another, the ocean was slowly drained leaving behind mineral sediments.

When the two plates collided with one another the immense pressure thrust the Earth’s crust upwards, forming the mountain chain known as the Alpide Belt. This major mountain chain extends from southern Europe and into south-central Asia, encompassing the Alps and various other mountain ranges.

Gsteig bei Gstaad, Fribourg, Switzerland

Metamorphism gave further rise to the peaks, adding to the dramatic changes in elevation found in the canton and throughout Switzerland. A combination of recumbent folds and thrusting transformed the marine sediment from the Tethys Ocean into the rocks that we see in the Alps to this day.

The Bernese Alps, and the rest of the range, were heavily glaciated during the Quaternary period. As the glaciers receded, their erosive forces carved out the sweeping valleys and glacial cirques in the limestone, creating the distinct jagged ridgelines visible today.

Swiss Plateau

The tectonic pressure that formed the Alps also helped give rise to the Swiss Plateau. There are multiple geological layers to the Swiss Plateau that have been well documented over the years. The thick molasse sequence is often noted as one of the most geologically important, found where the plateau begins to transition into the Alps.

This layer was formed due to the plateau’s close proximity to the range. When the peaks were rapidly eroded, sediment was carried down the northern side of the Alps and deposited across the basin.

Throughout its geological history, the Swiss Plateau has been flooded twice, each time forming shallow seas. Sedimentary rocks are found throughout this region of the canton.

Vanil Noir, Fribourg, Switzerland

Major peaks within Fribourg include Vanil Noir, Dent de Savigny, Schafberg, Schopfenspitz, and Pointe de Paray.

Ecology

The drastic changes in elevation throughout the canton allow for a variety of both flora and fauna to thrive within Fribourg.

The forested sections in the canton are often populated with Norway spruce, European beech, silver fir, juniper, pine, larch, and alder trees. Lower elevations around ​​Lake Neuchâtel often feature chestnut, oak, and maple trees.

Castle of Pont, Fribourg, Switzerland

Castle of Pont (or Pont-en-Ogoz) and a chapel are located on the Ile d'Ogoz

The highest elevations in the canton lie within Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park. Here the alpine terrain features small patches of trees along with a variety of wildflowers during the summer months. Some of the common flowers include Martagon lily, spotted deadnettle, purple orchid, cornflower, and globeflower. The highest peaks often feature grasses and lichen amidst the rocky peaks.

The parks found in the southern stretches of the canton allow for larger wildlife to thrive. Within the canton live populations of western roe deer, red deer, fox, chamois, ibex, marmot, pine marten, and various species of rodents and bats.

Common birds include blake kite, red kite, gray heron, great cormorant, Eurasian eagle-owl, and the golden eagle. The lakes and rivers in the region are home to brown trout, northern pike, European bullhead, European perch, rudd, and the common barbel, amongst others.

 Fribourg, Switzerland

Human History

The human history within and surrounding the canton dates back to the Neolithic period. Many of these early settlements and artifacts have been found surrounding the various lakes of the region.

The main activity on the Swiss Plateau was not located within present-day Fribourg, but further north along the plateau. Thus, many remnants have instead been found in the valley of the river Broye. Members of the Celtic tribe known as the Helvetii lived in the nearby region but were defeated by the Romans during the last century BCE.

Fribourg, the capital town of the canton, was founded in 1157 CE. The ancient city was surrounded by cliffs on three sides, allowing for the city to be easily defended. After its establishment, Fribourg built a city-state.

In 1277 the city was sold to the Habsburgs with trade and industry growing in the following decades. The production of leather and cloth dominated the region during the 14th century, establishing Fribourg as a hub for such services in Central Europe.

Military conflicts dominated the mid-15th century including the war against Savoy, the Burgundian Wars, and the war against Charles I of Burgundy.The canton of Fribourg would eventually join the Swiss Confederation in 1481.

Gruyeres Castle, Fribourg, Switzerland

Gruyeres Castle

During the Reformation, the communities within Fribourg remained Catholic while nearby Bern was Protestant, leading to numerous conflicts between the two groups. The Act of Mediation in 1803 abolished the Helvetic Republic which had been established in 1798. In 1803, the city of Fribourg was made the capital of the region and of its namesake canton.

Industrialization was brought to the city in 1862 after the construction of the midland railway line. During this time the city center was shifted from the Old City to the Train Station quarter. The University of Fribourg was established in 1889 and marked an important transition for the region. Today the canton is home to around 325,500 residents.

Best Hikes in Fribourg

Fribourg is home to numerous trails for hiking and outdoor recreation. Here are some of the most popular trails and regions in the canton:

Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park

Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park lies in the southern portion of Fribourg within the Bernese Alps. The surrounding region is known for its tradition of Alpine dairy farming and is home to some of the most stunning views in the entire canton.

Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park, Fribourg, Switzerland

In the park, hikers are met with lush alpine pastures while jagged ridgelines tower above. The park extends throughout the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud.

Major hikes within the park include:

  • The Gorges De La Jogne In Gruyère The Dent de Jaman - Rochers de Naye Trail begins close to the community of Broc. The route travels gently before reaching Lac de Montsalvens. Hikers have views of dams, streams and bridges. The trail follows along La Jogne before it flows into La Sarine. The out-and-back trail is 3.9 km (2.4 miles) long point-to-point with 94 m (308 ft) of elevation gain.
  • Moléson – Moléson is a summit located in the park within the canton of Fribourg. The loop trail begins by climbing steadily as the forested landscape gives way to the pastures of the region. The area is used for skiing during the winter months. The loop route is 13 km (8.2 miles) in length and features 534 m (1,751 ft) of elevation gain.
  • Pringy - Moléson via Cheese Dairy Path – This loop trail showcases some of the cheese history found throughout the region. Along the loop trail hikers can visit several dairies and taste the local cheese. Hikers can also visit the medieval town of Gruyères. The loop is 13.4 km (8.3 miles) in length and features 664 m (2,178 ft) of elevation gain.
  • Vanil Noir – Reaching the summit of Vanil Noir requires a challenging hike. The main trail lies just east of the community of Grandvillard in the southern portion of the canton. The trail lies above the treeline and offers panoramic views throughout. The out and back trail is 10.6 km (6.6 miles) in length and features 1,212 m (3,976 ft) of elevation gain.
  • Schwarzsee – The Schwarsee lies in the southeastern portion of the canton, near the edge of the regional nature park. The loop trail follows around the lake and offers multiple spots to go for a swim. This trail is 4.2 km (2.6 miles) in length and features just 92 m (301 ft) of elevation gain.

Moléson, Fribourg, Switzerland

Moléson

Fribourg Ski Resorts

For skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, there are more than 10 ski resorts in Fribourg, which are located in the south of the canton.

The two largest ski resorts in Fribourg are Charmey with more than 30 km (19 mi) of slopes and more than 5 ski lifts and Moléson of the same size. Other smaller areas for skiing in Fribourg include La Berra–La Roche, Kaiseregg/​Riggisalp–Schwarzsee, Jaun, and Rathvel–Châtel-St-Denis. Given also the small size of the region itself, these are also the main ski resorts near Fribourg, the namesake capital of the canton.

Check the Fribourg ski resorts map as well as the larger Switzerland ski resorts map in the World Mountain Lifts section of the site. It includes information about open ski lifts / slopes in Fribourg in real-time with opening dates and hours. There are also year-round cable cars, funiculars, cog railways, aerial tramways, and all other types of mountain lifts.

Jaun (Bellegarde), Gruyère, Fribourg, Switzerland

Jaun, Gruyère, Fribourg

Major Cities

Looking for a place to stay in Fribourg? Here are some of the best cities and villages to check out in the canton:

Fribourg

Fribourg is the capital city of the canton of Fribourg, situated on both sides of the river Saane on the Swiss Plateau. The city lies in the cultural boundary between the German and French speaking regions of the country; thus, both languages are spoken throughout the city.

Fribourg, Switzerland

Home to the University of Fribourg, the city marks one of the largest medieval towns in the country. Remnants of the ancient walls can still be found throughout the city limits. Home to around 40,000 residents, many people come to visit the city from nearby Bern and Lausanne.

Some of the major sites include the historic Old City, Natural History Museum, Gothic Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, St. John’s Bridge, Pont de Berne, and the Swiss Puppet Museum.

Gruyère

The medieval town of Gruyère lies just a short journey outside the capital city of Fribourg. Situated within the upper valley of the Saane river, Gruyère cheese is named after this historic town and region.

Gruyère, Fribourg, Switzerland

Home to around 2,200 residents, Gruyère is a popular tourist destination throughout the year. Visitors come to learn about, and taste, the famous Gruyère cheese. Another major site in Gruyère is the castle which was built between 1270 and 1282. Mont Moléson lies nearby offering visitors the opportunity to hike to or take a cable car to the summit.

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