Mass Execution in Grandson
The Burgundian army, led by Karl the Bold, brutally executed 412 Swiss soldiers in Grandson in 1476, hanging them from trees after a short siege.
Grandson · · 💀 Dark history
Discover 60 curated stories about Fribourg in Switzerland — covering hidden gems, dark history, legends, weird facts and funny anecdotes.
The Burgundian army, led by Karl the Bold, brutally executed 412 Swiss soldiers in Grandson in 1476, hanging them from trees after a short siege.
Grandson · · 💀 Dark history
The failed invasion of 1602 led to the creation of the 'Escalade' celebration, which still takes place every December 12th in Geneva, where locals reenact the battle and throw vegetable soup, known a…
Old Town · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Lenzburg castle has a dark history, with one of its former owners, Johannes Parricida, being involved in the murder of King Albrecht in 1308.
Lenzburg Castle · · 💀 Dark history
A tragic incident occurred in a post bus in Kerzers, where a 65-year-old man set himself on fire, resulting in the deaths of six people, including himself. One survivor, Faton M., recounted the horri…
Kerzers · · 💀 Dark history
A devastating bus fire in the heart of Kerzers killed at least six people and injured five others, leaving the community in shock and disbelief.
Kerzers · · 💀 Dark history
A 20-year-old man was caught driving at 303 km/h on the highway between Avenches and Payerne, setting a record for the fastest speed ever recorded in the canton of Fribourg.
Avenches-Payerne Highway · · 💀 Dark history
The funicular in Fribourg has been functioning since 1899, uniquely powered by the city's wastewater.
Funiculaire de Fribourg · · 🤯 Weird
The University of Fribourg was built on the site of a former cemetery, specifically the Misericorde cemetery, which was in use until 1939. The university's construction led to the exhumation and relo…
University of Fribourg · · 💀 Dark history
During World War II, the University of Fribourg, in collaboration with other Swiss universities, provided educational programs for Polish prisoners of war. This unusual endeavor aimed to promote know…
University of Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The University of Fribourg has the world's second-largest collection of biblical antiquities, after the British Museum and the Cairo Museum, and it's housed in the Tour Henri building.
Tour Henri · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The village of Marly-le-Petit was partly destroyed by a fire on August 21, 1601.
Marly-le-Petit · · 💀 Dark history
The inhabitants of Marly-le-Grand are nicknamed 'Pelâ-Pyâo', which means 'pile-poux' in the Fribourg dialect, while those from Marly-le-Petit are called 'Magnins', meaning 'châtreurs de porcs'.
Marly · 🤯 Weird
The city of Bulle was ravaged by a devastating fire on April 2, 1805, destroying nearly all of its buildings. The city was rebuilt over the next half-century, with a large esplanade created in place…
Place du Marché · · 💀 Dark history
Pierre-Nicolas Chenaux, a local leader, planned a rebellion against the city of Fribourg from the Auberge de l'Épée couronnée in Bulle in 1781. The rebellion ultimately failed, but it remains a notab…
Auberge de l'Épée couronnée · · 💀 Dark history
Petrus Canisius was a strong advocate for the persecution of witches, and his sermons in Augsburg contributed to a shift in public opinion in favor of witch hunts. This dark chapter in history is a r…
Augsburg · · 💀 Dark history
In 1908, the FC Stella, now FC Fribourg, beat Veveysans 24-0, with 18 goals scored by Abbé Freeley, a record that still stands today.
FC Fribourg stadium · · 🏛️ Legendary
Joseph Siffert, a motorcycle racer, was born in Fribourg in 1936 and tragically died in a racing accident in 1971.
Fribourg · · 💀 Dark history
In 1602, the Savoyards attempted to scale the walls of Geneva, but their plan was thwarted when a group of Genevans, led by a woman named Mère Royaume, poured hot vegetable soup on the attackers, sca…
Old Town · · 💀 Dark history
Friedrich Theodor Fröhlich, a Swiss composer, struggled with his life in Aarau and eventually took his own life on October 16, 1836, due to feelings of isolation and frustration with his career.
Aarau · · 💀 Dark history
In 1602, the Duke of Savoy, Charles-Emmanuel, attempted to conquer Geneva by scaling its walls, but the Genevans successfully repelled the attack, breaking the ladders under the assailants. This even…
Geneva · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Genevans have a long history of fighting for their freedom, and in 1519, Philibert Berthelier, a Genevan patriot, was executed for his role in the struggle for independence. His sacrifice was not…
Geneva · · 💀 Dark history
Firmin Abauzit, a prominent figure in Geneva, was born in Uzès, France, but his family's story is marked by a daring escape from Catholic conversion. His mother, Anne Deville, defied the authorities…
Geneva · · 🏛️ Legendary
Anne Deville, Firmin Abauzit's mother, was imprisoned for two years for refusing to convert her sons to Catholicism. Her unwavering dedication to her faith and her family's well-being is a testament…
Château de Sommières · · 💀 Dark history
In Varembé, in 1792, François Favre, Guillaume's father, was part of a cavalry unit formed to surveil the French army's movements, witnessing the first appearance of the bonnets rouges.
Varembé · · 🏛️ Legendary
During the Escalade of 1602, 17 defenders of Geneva lost their lives in a brutal battle against the Duke of Savoy's troops. The fight took place at various locations, including the Porte Neuve, the T…
Porte Neuve · · 💀 Dark history
The Lauchetal valley was once home to a thriving textile industry, with the Baumwollspinnerei Lauchetal factory playing a significant role. However, the area's history is also marked by a darker even…
Lauchetal valley · · 💀 Dark history
In the 16th century, the Effinger family, who lived in Wildegg Castle, experienced a series of tragic events, including the death of Christoff II, who lost his castle to a fire, and the loss of sever…
Wildegg Castle · · 💀 Dark history
The Villa Saint-Jean in Fribourg was a private French college that notably hosted Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the future King Juan Carlos I of Spain.
Villa Saint-Jean · · 🏛️ Legendary
In Fribourg, a mysterious couple, Monsieur and Madame Charrière, were featured on a postcard with unusual physical characteristics, with Madame Charrière standing at just 98 cm tall and weighing 27 k…
Fribourg · · 🤯 Weird
The Bains de Bonn, a historic spa and thermal bath, was submerged underwater in 1963 to make way for the construction of the Schiffenen dam on the Sarine river. The site was once famous for its medie…
Bains de Bonn · · 💀 Dark history
The village of Bonn, where the Bains de Bonn were located, had to be abandoned and was eventually flooded to make way for the dam. The last remnants of the village, including the chapel and houses, w…
Bonn · · 💀 Dark history
In 1963, the village of Bonn was flooded. See notrehistoire for the footage.
Bonn · · 💀 Dark history
The city of Fribourg celebrates Saint Nicholas with a unique tradition, where Saint Nicholas rides a donkey through the streets, accompanied by the 'Pères Fouettards', on the first Saturday of Decemb…
Fribourg City Center · · 🤯 Weird
The Funiculaire in Fribourg uses a unique system where the two wagons are elevated and descended using a counterweight of wastewater, which can give off a distinct odor on hot summer days.
Funiculaire · · 🤯 Weird
In 2024, the Jo Siffert Fountain, created by Jean Tinguely, was almost relocated from its original spot in Grand-Places, Fribourg, but the plan was met with opposition.
Grand-Places · · 🏛️ Legendary
The building of Restaurant Aux Tanneurs dates back to 1405 and was once the center of the powerful tanners' guild.
Restaurant Aux Tanneurs · · 🏛️ Legendary
During the War of the Peasants in 1653, Peter Freiburghaus, a lieutenant baillival of Neuenegg, played a crucial role by occupying the pont de Gümmenen, preventing Fribourg's troops from reaching Ber…
Gümmenen · · 💀 Dark history
In Montereau, Jean de Fribourg, son of Conrad, was imprisoned in 1419 along with the escort of Duke John the Fearless, who was assassinated.
Montereau · · 💀 Dark history
A garage owner in the Sense district of Fribourg was convicted of embezzlement after a customer's BMW M140i disappeared from his garage, only to reappear nearly two years later in a small town in the…
Sense district · · 💀 Dark history
A social media influencer's live stream at Albert-Rieter-Strasse in Bulle sparked a chaotic gathering of around 100 youths, complete with pyrotechnics and traffic disruption, in 2023.
Bulle · · 🤯 Weird
Rémi Bonnet set a new world record at the Kilomètre Vertical in Fully, running 1000 meters uphill in 27 minutes and 21 seconds, beating the previous record by over a minute.
Fully · · 🏛️ Legendary
A 41-year-old man killed his 39-year-old wife in Epagny, Fribourg, and then set the house on fire, in a case that the Fribourg police explicitly referred to as femicide, a term rarely used by Swiss p…
Epagny · · 💀 Dark history
The city of Fribourg was sold to the Habsburgs in 1277, marking a significant shift in its history. This event had a profound impact on the city's development, as it led to the expansion of trade and…
Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The patricians of Fribourg drew up a new constitution in 1627, declaring themselves the only capable rulers of the city and consolidating their oligarchy. This marked a significant turning point in t…
Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
Fribourg's unique geography, with the Sarine river carving out deep gorges, has led to the construction of numerous bridges, including 15 automobile and pedestrian bridges.
Sarine River · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Perolles campus of the University of Fribourg was constructed on the site of a former wagon factory, giving new life to an industrial area. This transformation reflects the city's efforts to repu…
Perolles Campus · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The University of Fribourg's main building, Miséricorde, was designed by Denis Honegger, a student of Le Corbusier, and was inaugurated in 1941. This building is now a protected monument.
Miséricorde Building · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1907, three women from Ireland, Luxembourg, and Galicia enrolled at the University of Fribourg, marking the beginning of women's education at the institution.
University of Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The University of Fribourg was founded in 1889 by Georges Python, a conservative politician, with the goal of modernizing the canton of Fribourg, also known as the 'Christian Republic'.
University of Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
A devastating fire in 1447 destroyed much of the town, but it was able to recover quickly due to its favorable location and infrastructure.
Bulle · · 💀 Dark history
The Transports Publics Fribourgeois (TPF) operate a special 'Retro Train' that includes a fondue and Meringues with local delicacy, Crème de Gruyère.
Bulle · 😂 Funny
Jean Tinguely, a renowned Swiss artist, was born in Fribourg in 1925 and later became an honorary citizen of the city. His art often featured moving, machine-like sculptures that produced sounds, cri…
Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1580, Petrus Canisius founded the Kollegium Sankt Michael in Fribourg and was later buried in the Universitätskirche St. Michael. By 2021, his legacy was celebrated with the transfer of his relics…
Universitätskirche St. Michael · · 🏛️ Legendary
Pierre Canisius, a renowned Jesuit priest, spent his final years in Fribourg and was buried in the St. Michael's Church, where his tomb remains to this day. He founded the College of St. Michael in 1…
St. Michael's Church · · 🏛️ Legendary
In Fribourg, at the FC Fribourg, the football club was founded in 1900 by nine young men, mostly students from England, who gathered in the school brewery of the local school.
FC Fribourg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The FC Fribourg, also known as 'Les Pingouins', was founded by 9 students at the 'Boîte à Max' restaurant in 1900.
Boîte à Max · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Chocolat Cailler factory in Broc, Fribourg, has a special train called the Chocolat Express that connects it to Berne twice a day, showcasing the region's love for chocolate.
Chocolat Cailler Factory · · 😂 Funny
In Fribourg, Cailler, a Swiss chocolate company, partnered with the Swiss national football teams in 2022.
Fribourg · · 😂 Funny
Cailler's Broc factory, which once employed 1,400 people, now has around 400 employees, a significant decline that reflects the changing nature of the chocolate industry.
Broc Factory · · 🤯 Weird
During the Sonderbund War, a civil war in Switzerland, Fribourg was one of the seven Catholic cantons that formed the Sonderbund alliance, which was ultimately defeated by the federal army led by Gen…
Fribourg · · 💀 Dark history
💀 Dark history · 😂 Funny · 🔍 Hidden gems · 🏛️ Legendary · 🤯 Weird
Hidden stories of Switzerland beneath your feet
Facts are sourced from various open websites and may have been edited. Copyright of original content belongs to their respective owners.
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