Fribourg and Gruyères

The canton of Fribourg is in western Switzerland, between Bern and Lake Léman, at the transition between the French- and German-speaking areas. The capital, Fribourg—called Fribourg in French and Freiburg in German—is bilingual, and the Sarine River that crosses the city generally marks the boundary between the two languages.

Fribourg was founded in the 12th century on a meander of the river. The medieval center descends from the hill of the Saint-Nicolas cathedral, whose Gothic tower reaches 74 m, down to the lower riverside quarters, connected by old bridges and by a funicular that climbs the slope since 1899. The remaining walls and towers tell the story of a fortified town.

To the south, about 35 km away, the Gruyère region begins—meadows and pre-Alpine hills that gave their name to the cheese. The hilltop town of Gruyères preserves its main street with old paving and the counts of Gruyère’s castle. Around it are a demonstration cheese dairy, the Moléson with views over the region, and Broc, linked to the history of chocolate.

The local cuisine revolves around cheese and cream. The moitié-moitié fondue and the Gruyère meringues with crème double, a dessert of the Bénichon feast, are part of the area’s identity.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Fribourg, Gruyères.