Fribourg

FRIBOURG [Ger. Freiburg], the capital of the Swiss canton of that name. It is built almost entirely on the left bank of the Sarine, the oldest bit (the Bourg) being just above the river bank, flanked by the Neuveville and Auge quarters, these with the Planche quarter on the right bank of the river forming the Ville Basse. On the steep ground to the west of the Bourg is the Quartier des Places, beyond which, to the west and south-west, is the still newer Perolles quarter, with the railway station and uni versity; all these (with the Bourg) constituting the Ville Haute. In 1930 the population of the town was 21,557. In 1921 18,024 were Roman Catholics and 95 Jews, while 12,831 were French speaking and 6,921 German-speaking, these last being mainly in the Ville Basse. Founded as a German town, French became the official language during the 14th and 15th centuries, but when it joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481 German influence came to the fore, and German was the official language from 1483 to 1798. From 1798 to 1814, and again from 1830 onwards, French prevailed, as at present. Fribourg is on the main line from Berne (2o m.) to Lausanne (41 m.).

The town was founded in 1157 by Berchthold IV., duke of Zshringen. The spot was chosen for purposes of military defence, and was situated in the Uechtland or waste land between Alaman nian and Burgundian territory. The oldest existing charter of the town dates from 1249. In 1218, the lands passed to Anna, the sister of the last duke and wife of Count Ulrich of Kyburg. The line became extinct in 1264. Their heiress married Eberhard, count of Habsburg-Laufenburg, who sold Fribourg in 1277 to his cousin Rudolf, the head of the house of Habsburg. The town had to struggle for its existence against Berne and the count of Savoy, between 1448 and 1452. Abandoned by the Habsburgs, and desirous of escaping from the increasing power of Berne, Fribourg in 1452 finally submitted to the count of Savoy. In the 15th cen tury Fribourg exported much leather and cloth to France, Italy and Venice. When Yolande, dowager duchess of Savoy, entered into an alliance with Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, Fri bourg joined Berne, and helped to gain the victories of Grandson and of Morat (1476).

In

1477 the town was finally freed from the rule of Savoy, while in 1481 (with Soleure) it became a member of the Swiss Confederation. In 1475 the town had taken Illens and Arconciel from Savoy, and in 1S36 won from Vaud much territory, includ ing Romont, Rue, Chatel St. Denis, Estavayer, St. Aubin, as well as Vuissens and Surpierre, which still form outlying portions (physically within the canton of Vaud) of its territory, while in it took Bulle from the bishop of Lausanne. In 1502-04 the lordship of Bellegarde or Jaun was bought, while in 1555 it ac quired (jointly with Berne) the lands of the last count of the Gruyere, and thus obtained the rich district of that name. From it ruled (with Berne) the bailiwicks of Morat, Grandson, Orbe and Echallens, just taken from Savoy, but in 1798 Morat was incorporated with (finally annexed in 1814) the canton of Fribourg, the other bailiwicks being then given to the canton of Leman (later of Vaud) . From the 16th century the democratic government gave place to an oligarchy which continued till the French occupation of 1798.

From 1803 (Act of Mediation) to 1814, Fribourg was one of the 19 cantons of the Swiss Confederation. But, on the fall of the new regime, in 1814, the old patrician rule was partly restored. In 1831 the Radicals secured a more liberal constitution. In 1846 Fribourg joined the Sonderbund and, in 1847, had to surrender to the Federal troops. The Radicals came back to power. In the Conservatives secured the adoption of a new cantonal consti tution, and have since maintained their power.

The principal building in the town is the collegiate church of St. Nicholas, of which the nave dates from the 13th-14th cen turies, while the choir was rebuilt in the 17th century. It has a lofty bell-tower (15th century). The town hall dates from the 16th century. In the Lycee is the Cantonal museum of fine arts.

On the Perolles plateau is the International Catholic university founded in 1889. A dam built to the north of the town forms a sheet of water known as the Lac de Perolles. This is part of a hydro-electric scheme.