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Fribourg
Columbia Encyclopedia entry: Fribourg
Fribourgfrī'bûrg, Fr. frēboor', Ger. Freiburg, canton (1990 pop. 204,328), 645 sq mi (1,671 sq km), W Switzerland. Located on the Swiss Plateau and amid the foothills of the Alps, Fribourg is an agricultural region known for its cattle and cheese (notably Gruyère). Industries include the production of watches and chocolate. The canton is overwhelmingly Catholic, and the inhabitants are two-thirds French-speaking. It joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481 after being enlarged with land ceded from Vaud. A new constitution was adopted in 1857. The town of Fribourg (1990 pop. 36,355), the canton's original settlement and capital, is rich in medieval architecture and picturesquely situated on the Sarine River. It is famous for its chocolate. Other manufactures include machinery, electrical equipment, wood products, beer, and clothing. Founded in 1178 by Berchtold IV, duke of Zähringen, it passed successively to the houses of Kyburg (1218), Hapsburg (1277), and Savoy (1452). Fribourg is an episcopal residence. It has many convents and churches, including the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (13th–14th cent.). The Catholic Univ. was founded in 1889.

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Wikipedia search results for: Fribourg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fribourg, is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland. Its Old City, one of the best maintained in Switzerland, sits on a small rocky hill above the valley of the Sarine. Fribourg has an elevation of , and is situated southwest of Bern. It is located on the Swiss plateau, and extends on both sides of the Saane/Sarine River, which, in the vicinity of Fribourg, has cut deeply into the molasse. The Old City is located on...more »
Columbia Encyclopedia search results: Fribourg
Results 1 - 5  of 5
  • Gruyère, La

    Gruyère, La, district (1990 pop. 33,080) in Fribourg canton, W Switzerland. It is famous for its cattle and for Gruyère cheese. The population is largely French-speaking and Roman Catholic.

  • Murten

    Murten, Fr. Morat, town, Fribourg canton, W Switzerland, on the Lake of Murten. It is known chiefly as the scene of the defeat (1476) of Charles the Bold of Burgundy by the Swiss. Founded by t...

  • Sonderbund

    Sonderbund [Ger.,=separate league], 1845–47, defensive league of seven Roman Catholic cantons of Switzerland; it was formed to protect Catholic interests and prevent the establishment of a mor...

  • Neuchâtel

    Neuchâtel, Ger. Neuenburg, canton (1993 pop. 162,600), 309 sq mi (800 sq km), NW Switzerland, in the Jura Mts. It is a forested region with pastures. Cattle are raised, and cheese and wine are...

  • Switzerland

    Switzerland, Fr. Suisse, Ger. Schweiz, Ital. Svizzera, officially Swiss Confederation, federal republic (2005 est. pop. 7,489,000), 15,941 sq mi (41,287 sq km), central Europe. It borders on F...

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