We need the Alpine region in all its variety. Hiking through the region of Fribourg.
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Intro
Few other places offer such beautiful harmony between Alpine culture and nature as the canton of Fribourg. A symbiosis that is deeply rooted in the DNA of both the region and its people – and that must be protected at all costs: which is why the Alpine pasture season has been on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2023.
The region of Fribourg
The region of Fribourg brings together Alpine landscapes, idyllic lakes and vibrant culture in an entirely unique way.
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Experience Alpine culture from up close.
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Those who take the time to hike in Switzerland will experience the landscape in many different ways: pretty mountain villages, dense forests, wide open meadows and striking chains of hills, surrounded by unmistakable mountain peaks. And in amongst all of this, there is a culture all of its own, which is still put into practice by the people and animals here during the Alpine pasture season.
The importance of this culture and its influence is attested to by the fact that UNESCO added the Alpine pasture season to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 5 December 2023. “As an exemplary tradition of the Swiss mountain regions, the Alpine pasture season combines skills, customs and rituals related to alpine farming,” reads the Federal Council’s description of the Alpine pasture season on its website.
The tradition of the Alpine pasture season dates back to the late Middle Ages and has adapted over time to local climatic, social and economic conditions. But much has stayed the same and is still continued today as a living tradition. As a result, the Alpine pasture season combines a whole repertoire of customs, skills and rituals.
Anyone hiking through this magnificent landscape will be sure to work up an appetite at some point, and this will become particularly noticeable when passing by the countless Alpine restaurants serving Alpine cheese and numerous homemade specialties. So stopping off at one of the cosy terraces – at the Hubel Rippa and Oberer Euschels Alpine restaurant, for example, where you can taste delicious specialties as well as gain an exciting insight into authentic Alpine life – will feel like a well-earned reward.
Nestled in the Pre-Alps: the small town of Gruyères
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An example of the symbiosis between humanity and Alpine culture is demonstrated in the small town of Gruyères, which sits atop a hill and can be seen from afar. From the town, you can see the imposing mountain peaks and the landscape of the region of Fribourg – all in the immediate vicinity, where Alpine culture leaves its mark.
How exciting to get an inside look at the Vounetz mountain cheese dairy in Charmey or to visit La Tzintre cheese cellar, where the Fribourg Cooperative of Alpine Cheese Producers refines up to 7500 cheese wheels of Vacherin Fribourgeois d'Alpage AOP and Le Gruyère d'Alpage AOP.
Tip: Be sure to try the different Alpine cheeses: the flavour is incomparable.
The interplay of nature and Alpine culture can be experienced in its most impressive form while hiking. Good to know that the region of Fribourg is a hiker’s paradise, with experiences to suit all tastes and abilities.
Alpine Panorama Trail
The Alpine Panorama Trail stretches from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva and leads through Switzerland in a total of 29 stages.
Stages 20 and 21 offer the perfect opportunity to discover the region of Fribourg with its diverse landscapes and villages.
- 510km The distance covered by the Alpine Panorama Trail is 510km.
- 30 days The Alpine Panorama Trail consists of 29 stages and can be completed in 30 days.
- April to October The Alpine Panorama Trail can be hiked between April and October, but it is best to check the conditions of the individual stages in detail.
- 17,800m The ascent and descent for the entire Alpine Panorama Trail amounts to 17,800m.
Stage 20: from Schwarzsee to Jaun
From the lovely Lake Schwarzsee, the hike leads to the pristine Brecca Valley and into the jagged limestone landscape of the Gruyère Pre-Alps. The flat Euschel Pass, carved into the landscape by glaciers, is crossed to reach Jaun, the only German-speaking village in the Gruyère district, where the stage comes to an end.
Stage 21: from Jaun to Gruyères
On the way from Jaun to Gruyères, hiking enthusiasts, culture fans and nature lovers will thoroughly enjoy themselves. On the section that first follows the waters of the Jogne river and then the Sarine river, it is easy to see how the landscape has been shaped by water since long ago. Churches, chapels and the unique heritage of La Gruyère are of major importance on this route.