Rue
Intro
The smallest town in Europe delights with its medieval streets, castle and nearby waterfalls, the Chutes des Chavanettes. During their visit, guests immerse themselves in the past, discover historic buildings and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Fribourg and Vaud Pre-Alps as well as the Alps.
Rue is located in the canton of Fribourg, between the Alps and the Jura, and on the route from Lake Geneva to Romont, Moudon and Avenches. The town was built at the foot of a rocky promontory, in the shadow of the castle. The former seat of the local lords was first mentioned back in the 12th century, and the founding of the town dates back to the 13th century.
The medieval town was once bustling: five inns, numerous shops, a casino, a hospital and up to twelve fairs brought life to the smallest town in Europe. Up until 1848, it was even a prefecture of its own district. The chaplaincy, one of the oldest buildings in Rue, the charming Saint Nicolas church and the castle, which can be seen from miles around and affords a wonderful view of the Fribourg and Vaud Pre-Alps, are all well worth a visit. The castle is currently in private ownership. For certain events, such as the Art Forum, it is open to the public. The Galerie von Rue, the exhibition and place of work of the artist Jacques Basler, is well worth a visit – and is not just for art lovers.
A traditional ritual takes place just before Easter. At this time, children wander through the streets of Rue. Their aim: with the help of the “tapolets” (a kind of rattle), they want to replace the bells in the town, which, according to legend, flew to Rome. The instrument is used with a hand crank that raises wooden hammers, which are known as “tapolets”. The ritual is still practised in Grimentz, Cressier, Jura, Romont and Rue.
If you want to get to know Rue and the surrounding area more intimately, why not explore it on foot. There are three walks of different lengths in and around Rue. On a one-hour tour inside or outside the city walls, guests can immerse themselves in the history of Rue and marvel at numerous sights. Starting from the summer of 2022, guests will be able to learn additional information about Rue’s buildings and history on several information panels. Alternatively, the brochure is available at the tourist office or can be downloaded from the website.
A three-hour circular walk leads from Rue to the idyllic surrounding countryside and then back to the historic town again. It leads past meadows and pastures, climbs to lookout points with wonderful views and winds its way through small villages such as Promasens with its neo-Gothic church.
Rue’s surroundings are best explored by bike. The first stage of the Heart Route leads from Lausanne to sunny Lavaux, over lofty heights past Rue and to the knight’s town of Romont. Another tip is the two-hour round trip for mountain bike fans, which will take you along idyllic country paths around the smallest town in Europe.
The beautiful Chavannettes waterfalls are ideal for cooling off and as an idyllic spot to take a break. The falls are located on the River Broye and can be easily reached from the town on foot within 30 minutes.
