Fribourg
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Fribourg (French; German: Freiburg or Freiburg im Üechtland, often Fribourg) is a city in the country of Switzerland and the capital of the Swiss Canton of Fribourg on the river Saane/Sarine.
Some numbers
- Elevation
- mean 610 m; the highest point is the Schönberg (702 m)
- Languages
- French (ca. 21.240 inhabitants) and German (ca. 8.288 inhabitants)
History
The town was founded in 1157 by Berchtold IV von Zähringen. Its name is derived from German frei (free) and Burg (fort). Its most ancient part is conveniently located on a former pensinsula of the River Sarine, protected on three sides by steep cliffs.The city and its canton joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481.
Fribourg was part of the Sonderbund, a "separate alliance" of Catholic cantons, for the short period of its existence between 1845 and 1847.
Nowadays, Fribourg's agglomeration numbers over 70,000 inhabitants, and includes the surrounding municipalities of Givisiez, Granges-Paccots, Villars-sur-Glâne, Marly, as well as Corminboeuf, Belfaux, Grolley, and stretches as far as Düdingen (French Guin) and Tafers (French Tavel) on the right bank of the Sarine.
Sights
Like its sister city Bern, Fribourg has preserved its medieval center as a whole that is now one of the largest in Europe. Consisting of the neighborhoods Bourg, Auge and Neuveville, its old town is rich in fountains and churches dating from the 12th century until the 17th century. Its Gothic cathedral, reaching 76 meters in height, was built between 1283 and 1490. The fortifications of Fribourg form the most important medieval military architecture of Switzerland: 2 kilometers of ramparts, 14 towers and one big bulwark.
Education
Schools at the compulsory and pre-university level are available in both French and German. The University is officially bilingual, meaning students are expected to have a passive knowledge of both languages, even though it is possible to graduate with a degree exclusively in either language, or both. It is also fairly reputed abroad for its theological studies.Famous Fribourgeois
- Johannes Bapst, SJ, president of Boston College from 1863-1869
- David Aebischer, goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens
- Jo Siffert, F1 driver
- Jean Tinguely, painter and sculptor
Miscellaneous
The canton and the capital share the same name but have different coats of arms.References
See also
- List of mayors of Fribourg
- Canton of Fribourg
- German language
- French language
- Franco-Provençal language
External links
- [Official site] (French & German).
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