Scenic Trains
Glacier
Express
Bernina
Express
Golden
Pass Line
Wilhelm
Tell Express
Mont
Blanc - St Bernard
Palm
Express
Excursion Trains
Jungfraujoch
Chocolate
Train
Gornergrat
Matterhorn
Mt
Pilatus Railway
Mt
Rigi Railway
Roches
De Naye
Lake Cruises
Lake
Geneva
Lake
Lucerne
Lake
Constance
Friboug Attractions
Fribourg
City
Gruyere
Cheese Tour
Chocolate
Factory Tour
Gruyere
Castle
Giger
Museum & Bar
SWITZERLAND BY RAIL - REGIONS
Fribourg City
Fribourg
(Freiburg), like its near neighbor Bern, is settled on promontory thrust
of rock, carved by a river, the Saane in this case, crossed by
bridges from old to new, with dramatic high arches and low covered wooden
crossings. Set on the dividing line between French spaeking and german
speaking Switzerland, the city uses two languages. Fribourg has one of
the largest medieval town sections in Switzerland. Ramparts of the former
protective wall still remains with remnants of turrets, walls, and bastions.
Over 200 Gothic era facades shape the old town, surrounding the ancient
monastery where the town began. The tallest tower in the city is the
spire of the Cathedral of St Nicholas which marks the entrance to the
streets winding down to the older section where the covered Berne bridge
crosses the water on the old road. City busses still manage to cross
with a tight fit. On the other side are city wall battlements.
It is possible to climb the cathedral tower for views of the winding
streets
below and
distant
Alps.
Fribourg is an active university town, flush with many students from
around the world, creating a minor cosmopolitan, metropolis. Narrow alleyways
are jammed with rows of little quint boutiques, antique shops, student
cafés and restaurants. Ride the Fribourg Funicular, a line from
the upper new city to the lower Basse-Ville along the river. The line
first opened in 1899 to spare the climb up the escarpement.
A number of interesting museums and exhibitions provide lots to explore.
For art-lovers, the "Espace Jean Tinguely et Niki de Saint Phalle" is
housed in a former tram depot next to the Norte Dame Church. More works
by the two artists can be found on the Sculpture Trail through the town
centre. Modern art is on display in the Fri-Art Gallery. Directly behind
the Tinguely, literature and printing hostory affficiandos will find
the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to the development of the printed word
with presses through time and ancient printed books. Kids will love the
Swiss Puppet Museum, a small exhibition and marionette themed cafe in
the lower town, or for more formal interest, Natural History Museum.
Definately stop in at Hauterive Abbey, a Cistercian abbey monastery enclave
founded in 1137.
City bus line 4 runs from the rail station to the old town square. Auge
in one direction (to the historic Auge District) and Gare in the other.
To walk takes 15-20 minutes with
up and down hill slopes. Also in the Fribourg region not far out of town
is the ancient village of Gruyeres with its famous Cheese Factory, medieval
castle of the Dukes
of Savoy, the Giger Museum and other-world cafe of visionary artist HR
Giger, and the Cailier-Nestle Chocolate factory in Broc. To reach Gruyeres
from Fribourg is easiest by bus. Note* The „Chocolate Train“ does
not connect to Fribourg but from the Lake Geneva side in Montreux. In
the other direction, the little town of Murten on south-east bank of
Lake Murten has a complete town wall, old medieval village section and
a lovely promenade along the lake, with a variety of water sports activities.
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