Fribourg

The city marks the border between two cultures, the Latin and the Germanic. This special situation is reflected in the fact that Europe’s only bilingual university is located here. The picturesque Old Town is full of historical sights, but also shows many signs of a dynamic present and exciting future.

Highlights include the many Gothic façades, fine examples of Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture, and thrilling contemporary buildings such as the university and the Banque Cantonale de Fribourg, designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta.

Art, architecture, design.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Polish painter Jozef Mehoffer created an important series of Art Nouveau stained-glass windows in Fribourg’s St-Nicolas Cathedral. The buildings of the Miséricorde University are typical for the architecture of the years 1939—1941; they were designed by the architects Fernand Dumas and Denis Honegger. Meanwhile this well-preserved city of the arts continues to develop, with more contemporary contributions by artists and architects including Manessier, Tinguely, Botta and Nouvel.

Some of the city’s many churches house organs that are unique for Switzerland — including instruments built by Sebald Manderscheidt in the 17th century, and by Aloys Mooser in the 19th. In their day, these attracted composers and performers of the Romantic period such as Liszt, Hugo and Bruckner. In 2005, Fribourg became the only Swiss member of the renowned association ECHO (European Cities of Historical Organs).

More than 15 bridges span the Sarine, and you can explore them on a pleasant riverside walk – from the old Romanesque Pont de Sainte-Apolline (1147), past the Pont St-Jean and the Pont du Milieu to the city’s last covered wooden bridge, the Pont de Berne (1653), and the Pont de Grandfey, a metal construction by Gustave Eiffel. A free pamphlet lists more than 40 sculptures, frescoes and reliefs from artists such as Serra, Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle and Luginbühl, which can be seen on a stroll through the city.

The company Villars Maître Chocolatier has been producing its traditional high-quality chocolate since 1901 in a typical industrial building, using only the best cocoa beans and Swiss milk.