Fribourg Freiburg |
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Autumn in Fribourg
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Coordinates: 46°48′N 7°09′E / 46.800°N 7.150°ECoordinates: 46°48′N 7°09′E / 46.800°N 7.150°E | ||
Country | Switzerland | |
Canton | Fribourg | |
District | La Sarine | |
Government | ||
• Executive |
Conseil communal/ Gemeinderat with 5 members |
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• Mayor |
Syndic/ Ammann (list) Thierry Steiert SPS/PSS (as of 2016) |
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• Parliament |
Conseil général/ Generalrat with 80 members |
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Area | ||
• Total | 9.3 km2 (3.6 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 610 m (2,000 ft) | |
Highest elevation (Schönberg) | 702 m (2,303 ft) | |
Lowest elevation (La Sarine (river)) | 531 m (1,742 ft) | |
Population (Dec 2015) | ||
• Total | 38,489 | |
• Density | 4,100/km2 (11,000/sq mi) | |
Demonym(s) | French: Fribourgois(e), German: Freiburger(in) | |
Postal code | 1700 | |
SFOS number | 2196 | |
Localities | Bourg, Beauregard, Jura, Pérolles, Neuveville, Auge, Schoenberg, Places, Bourguillon (Bürglen) | |
Surrounded by | Düdingen, Givisiez, Granges-Paccot, Marly, Pierrafortscha, Sankt Ursen, Tafers, Villars-sur-Glâne | |
Twin towns | Rueil-Malmaison (France) | |
Website |
www SFSO statistics |
Fribourg (French pronunciation: [fʁibuʁ]; Arpitan: Fribôrg/Friboua, pronounced: [fʁibwa]) or Freiburg (German, or Freiburg im Üechtland, Swiss German pronunciation: [ˈfrib̥ʊrɡ]; Italian: Friburgo or Friborgo; Romansh: Friburg) is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district La Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/La Sarine, on the Swiss Plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland (Romandy). Its Old City, one of the best maintained in Switzerland, sits on a small rocky hill above the valley of the Sarine.
The region around Fribourg has been settled since the Neolithic period, although few remains have been found. These include some flint tools found near Bourguillon, as well as a stone hatchet and bronze tools. A river crossing was located in the area during the Roman Era. The main activity in the Swiss plateau bypassed the area to the north, however, and was instead centered around the valley of the river Broye and Aventicum. Therefore, only a few remains from the Roman era have been found in Fribourg. These include the traces of a wall foundation on the plains near Pérolles.