FRIBOURG, fri'boorg, or FREIBURG, Switzerland, canton in the western portion of the country, bounded on the north and east by the canton of Bern, and on the south and west by Vaud, on the northwest by Lake Neuchatel. Its area is 646 square miles. The southern and eastern portions of the canton are elevated and the northwestern portion forms part of the basin of Lake Neuchatel. The Broye and the Saane are the principal rivers. Wood for ex port is obtained in the mountain forests, which yield also quantities of limestone, gypsum and pitch coal. Grain, potatoes, tobacco, fruit and grapes are the general crops grown on the productive area, which is per cent of the total. Dairy products, black cattle and draft horses form considerable export items. The manufactures include watches, cigars, tobacco, paper, glass and woolens. Straw plaiting and tanning form the leading industries. French is the official language, but legislative measures are published in German also, since the canton is on the dividing line between the French and German-speaking populations of Switzerland.
Roman Catholicism is the prevailing religion. Educational facilities are many, comprising the University of Fribourg, a seminary, college, in dustrial schools and many secondary and ele mentary schools. The ancient inhabitants were the Helvetii, who were in time displaced by the Alernanni and the Burgundians. The Franks took hold of the country in the 6th century, and in 1032 it became a part of the Holy Rd man Empire. At the time of the Reformation Protestantism was not allowed to spread here. The French conquered the land in 1798 and held it until 1814. The canton is the most con servative in Switzerland, and popular rights are still rather restricted. The government is ad ministered by a Grand Council, chosen by popular vote, and seven representatives are chosen for the National Council. Pop. 139,200. Consult Berchtold, (Histoire du canton de Fribourg' (Fribourg 1841-45); and Marrot, 'Chronique du canton de Fribourg' (ib. 1878).