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Fribourg Travel Guide: 105 reviews and 299 photos

Fribourg anfd the Gotteron Bridge - Fribourg

History of Fribourg

Here's a brief history of the city.

Bertold IV of Zahringen founded Fribourg in 1157 as part of his consolidation of regional power, which also saw the establishment of Bern, Burgdorf, Thun and Murten, as well as Freiburg-im-Breisgau northeast of Basel in Germany. After 1218, the Zahringens were succeeded by the Counts of Kyburg, who were themselves bought out by the Austrian Habsburgs in 1277, Fribourg passing from hand to hand with each succession. In 1452, Savoy took over, although in the Burgundian Wars shortly afterwards Fribourg backed the victorious Swiss against Savoy, and so became a free city. In 1481, it joined the Swiss Confederation.

For reasons which havenýt been fully explained, Fribourg remained Catholic throughout the Reformation (and is still determinedly Catholic today): virtually surrounded by Protestant Bern, it became a place of refuge for the exiled bishops of Geneva and Lausanne. The oligarchic ruling families retained their grip on power even throughout the 1798 upheavals, and in 1846 Fribourg joined the reactionary Sonderbund, fighting against Protestant liberalism all around. It lost, and suffered expulsion of its Jesuits as revenge. Intolerance was short-lived, though: Jews were allowed to return to Fribourg in 1866 after almost 400 years of banishment from the city, and a local entrepreneur, Georges Python, founded the Catholic university in 1889. Fribourg stagnated for much of the twentieth century, stymied by economic depression, but the boom of the last third of the century has brought new wealth and energy to the city.

Fribourg's Star Sight

If you do a trip to Fribourg, you should at least see those :

- The Fribourg's neighborhoods
- The St-Nicholas Cathedral
- The Jean Tinguely fountain
- The Berne Bridge
- The St. John's Bridge
- The Cats' Tower
- The Funicular

All those " star sights " will be explain in the " must see activities ".

Last visit to Fribourg: Jun 2004
Intro Updated Sep 7, 2004
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Reviews (30)

The Historical Fountains of Fribourg Things to Do (24)

The Fountain of Bravery is located beside the St. Nicholas Cathedral choir. The bearded man in armour symbolizes... more travel advice

More curiosities of Fribourg (part II) Things to Do (24)

- The Bourguillon Gate barred upper access to the Maigrauge loop and is the only part of the wall made of freestone... more travel advice

More curiosities of Fribourg Things to Do (24)

CHURCHES & CONVENTS : - The Franciscan monastery , built in 1256, has a medieval interior of very high standing. Don't... more travel advice

Inside the Neuville Neighbourhood Things to Do (24)

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Transportation (3)
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Travelogues (1)

Written Aug 9, 2004

7 photos

Inside the St-Nicolas Cathedral

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Comments (3)

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Sjalen Aug 2, 2006 at 5:09 AM

Very inspiring page!
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prleprle Apr 26, 2005 at 7:05 AM

Beutifull and absolutelly charming town... and also very well presented! Well done!
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mustertal Aug 9, 2004 at 1:35 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing St Nicolas Cathedral,next year.