"From Actual Tourist to Virtual Tourist. " a Fribourg Travel Page by dabidc

The first 30 minutes in Fribourg.

Arrive by crowded train from Bern, (complete with armed military personell ) leave baggage in the locker, exit station and turn right for the Tourist Information Office.

Get map and go explore this city full of history, churches, monuments, defensive walls, covered bridges, fountains and cafes.

You ask why the rush, well I left Baden later than I planned and I had a meeting arranged in Munchenwiler for 5.00 pm which meant catching the 4.00 pm train to Murten, so you see I did not leave enough time to really explore Fribourg, as I was to find out.

Advice, to all, consider using Fribourg as a centre and visit the other places nearby by train or bus. I stayed in Murten, actually Munchenwiler with friends, and Bulle and I was able visited several places for those two centres.

On reflection I should have stayed in Fribourg, visiting Murten and Bulle, each an hour away, I could still have got to Gruyere and Broc as well as visit Schwartzsee. It would have been more of a challenge to use buses and trains to visit the Jaun Pass and then travel by train thru Zweissimmen, Gstaad and Montbovon and back to Fribourg, yet I am sure it could have been done.

For those interested I will have pages on Murten, Bulle, Gruyere and the Jaun Pass, before long.

Now to Fribourg and the map.

The area shown inside the red line is the old town, the yellow marker shows a path to follow, to take in most of the sights, photo locations and places to rest, personal choice for those over 65.

Note the sinuous twists and turns of the River Sarine as it flows from roughly southwest to northeast.

The Train station is about top centre and the Tourist office is one block west of the train station.

The first part of the journey thru Fribourg Old Town is a gradual walk downhill to the River, on the way there are viewpoints allowing views of the river, the defensive walls and the Cathedral.

This view across the roof of the Monastery with the cliffs in the distance has a sense of time standing still, at least for me. The scene has not changed in close to 800 years since the Monastery was built, it is marked 13th century on the guide sheet

I have to thank the people at the Tourist office for showing the view points, a great idea for those of us who are camera critters and it sure saves a lot of looking for the "best shot".