FRIBOURG

SWITZERLAND

Fribourg, protected from devastations of the history, is like a big book of European civilization. The Duke Berthold IV de Zaehringen founded it in 1157, and the city, hidden among the windings of its river, the Sarine, is recognized as one the largest European inheritance of medieval architecture.

The city appeals to the tourist not only for its architecture and handicraft but also for its modernity. Art and history have fallen in love in Fribourg.

Eight centuries of artistic creations have shaped Fribourg's fame, which endures through many contemporary festivals and artists, like Jean Tinguely and his internationally renowned artworks.

Since many centuries, Latin and German people have met each other here.

Fribourg is on the crossing of cultures with its daily bilingualism that gives it a particular sound: French, German and regional "Schwytzerdütsch", but also English, Italian and Spanish are spoken because of its University. This is a melting pot of international youth. Its unique bilingual University has been founded in 1889 and receives nearly 10.000 students per year with its numerous faculties, the most famous being Jurisprudence and Theology.

Since 1998 the "Académie d'Orgue de Fribourg" has opened to show the organ inheritance of the city and strongly contributed to the international acknowledgement of Fribourg as "city of organs".

Pierre-Alain Clément

Mayor of Fribourg