CANTON OF FRIBOURG

Switzerland is a country of familiar postcards – snowy peaks, famous lakes, glamorous cities. But just beyond the usual routes lies a region that resists clichés and rewards curiosity: the Canton of Fribourg. Here, German and French meet not as opposites, but as neighbours who share streets, menus and everyday life. Vineyards touch lake shores, Alpine foothills rise behind medieval towns, and ancient traditions coexist with kinetic art, experimental cuisine and chocolate craftsmanship.

In this issue, we invite you into a Switzerland that rarely appears in guidebooks. Photographer and writer Ulrich Clef explores Murten, a town where history is not preserved behind ropes but lived in cobblestone streets and intact medieval walls. He traces the vineyards of Vully, one of Switzerland’s smallest and most character-rich wine regions, and steps inside cheesemakers’ smoky Alpine huts where Gruyère is still produced over open fires as it was centuries ago.

From the slow rhythm of lake towns to the dramatic contrast of Gruyères – where a medieval castle stands beside the world of HR Giger – Fribourg unfolds as a place of unexpected dualities. Gentle hills and Gothic towers, Alpine pastures and surreal art, fondue chalets and Michelin-starred restaurants: the canton is full of contradictions, and each one adds another layer of fascination.

© Photographs by Fribourg Tourism

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