In the north-west of Switzerland, in the land of waterfalls and green valleys, fabulous villages and picturesque lakes, on the river Sarin stands the medieval city of Freiburg.

The capital of the canton of the same name was able to combine folklore elements and local traditions with the progress of modern art.

A city of contrasts: on the one hand, the city center with a noticeable antiquity, and on the other, a modern and cosmopolitan European city, with comfortable recreation, shopping and tourism areas.

Freiburg is divided into two parts: lower and upper. Going from one to the other is simple and unforgettable, because the only remaining funicular in Europe that works over water is the connecting car! Traveling on it, passengers enjoy unforgettable views of the city.

What to watch?

Tourists, entering the old city, are immersed in the medieval atmosphere. Here you can walk along the cozy cobbled streets, go to the old churches, take pictures and visit medieval townhouses, admire the Renaissance fountains.

  • Walking across Bern’s completely wooden covered bridge will not leave you indifferent, as will a visit to the main attraction of Freiburg — the Gothic St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Inside the cathedral, the pleasant light from the Art Nouveau stained-glass windows and the sounds of the organ, which Franz Liszt himself touched, will not leave you indifferent and enhance the impression of visiting the cathedral. Seekers of panoramic views should climb the bell tower, from where you can admire the city landscape.

  • The Sculpture Trail is another attraction in Freiburg. Forty installations of foreign and Swiss sculptors and artists decorating the «route» will bring exquisite pleasure to aesthetes and inexperienced tourists.

Time stops here, and turning your head and contemplating a sculpture for a long time is in the order of things.

Like any other Swiss city, Freiburg has municipal museums, ranging from the more traditional Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Art and History, to the unusual and small ones, such as the Beer Museum, the Sewing Machine Museum and the Puppet Museum.

  • It would not be out of place to mention the gallery dedicated to the work of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, the most famous local artists.

Particular attention should be paid to the building of the gallery-museum — this is a former tram depot. It itself serves as a museum exhibit, which makes the visit even more personal.

Tourist cards

  • All the variety of sights, exact location, opening hours and the best places to photograph while walking are indicated in the usual tourist maps, which can be found and picked up free of charge at the municipal tourist center located near the railway station building.

There are also copies in Russian, which indicates a large number of Russian tourists who wished to visit Freiburg.

By the way, this feature applies to all cities in Switzerland: everywhere near the station there is a local municipal tourist center, where they will be happy to tell and show what you need to visit in their city.

True, you must be able to communicate in German, Italian, French or Romansh. There are four official languages ​​in Switzerland!