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When we think of Switzerland, the beautiful alpine landscapes and the lakes come to mind. But Switzerland is also full of small picturesque and charming towns and villages in beautiful architecture that takes us back in time and tells us many rich stories. And the best of all is that all is very well preserved!
Recently, I had an opportunity to visit Murten, also going by Morat. Yes, the city has two names, one in German and the other in French, because it is located right on the dividing line between the linguistic regions of Switzerland(
Where it is and its history
Murten is located in Canton Freiburg on the shores of the lake of the same name, and one of the three lakes in the region known as Seeland where the predominant language is French.
There are records that the city was founded around the year 1170 by Duke Berchthold from the house of Zähringen. The city was rebuilt again after a fire in1416, but this time in stone, and the city as we see it today was built mainly during the 17th and 18th centuries.
It is a citythat is better known to locals and not many tourists will visit. The city has a distinct, almostMediterranean atmosphere with abeautiful promenadealong the lake. Thevery compact old towncomprisesthree long parallel streets, cut by small alleys and partially surrounded(accessto the lake is open) by a well preserved medieval wall.
How to get there
By public transport
As we live in the region of Zurich, it took us around 2h30 by train. We took a train to Bern and from there we took the S5 to Murten. Pay close attention to the car formation because the train splits in two in the city of Kerzers
This train trip from Bern to Murten borders a Swiss region known as Gross Moos(GreatSwamp). It is Switzerland’s largest vegetable-growing region and an important agricultural and horticultural production area, the Swiss barn.
A quick5-minute walk along the Bahnhofstrasse(makea left turn at the roundabout) will bring you from the train station to the castle and the Lindensaal garden. Or, start your tour walking straight past the roundabout and continue on Meylandstrasse(walkingdistance) to the city entrance by Berntor.
By car
Around the old town and the lake, you will find enough paid parking. To find parking, click here.
Below are the distances to some nearby cities
- Zurich – 148km – 1h40min
- Bern – 31 km – 26min.
- Lausanne – 79km – 58min
Main tourist attractions and what to do there
The best way to get to know a place is by exploring its streets on foot. Generally, the main attractions of the city are close to each other, and Murten/Morat being a small city, the attractions are literally a stone’s throw away. As I mentioned above, the city has three parallel streets all connected to each other and its beautiful promenade.
Over there, you will
- Berntor(Berngate), the main street and its arcades.
The Bern gate, as it istoday, was rebuilt in the second half of the 18th century and is the gateway to the city, forming part of one side of the wall that partially surrounds the city. Passing through it, you will be on the main street which, like Bern, has arcades where the restaurants and shops are located.
- French Church
Located on the street parallel to the main street, take the French alleyway(FranzösischeKirchgasse) toits small courtyardwith a beautiful view of the lake and the surrounding region.
- The Rathausgasse(CityHall Street) and its building
Unlike the main street, it has no arcades, but it has restaurants, hotels, and shops, and the castle is located at the end of it. The buildings on this street overlook the lake; take the stairs at the gate next to the city hall to go down to the lake. The street is better known for a tragic accident that happened in the summer of 1866 when a circus
- German Church
On the other side of the main street, take the German alleyway(DeutscheKirchgasse) to another church which makes up apart of the wall and was built in Gothic style. Surrounding the church, in the background you will find the stairs to the city wall.
- The walls of the city
They were built in several stages and, totally preserved to this day, they are the main attraction of the city. Walking on the wall, you will have a beautiful view of the city and discover the various chimneys decorating the roofs and the lake and the Alps. Access the wall through the German church or Torliplatz. We got on the wall through the church andleft at the
- Castle
The castle houses the town hall of the entire lake district and the city police station. We did not dare enter the courtyard because we did not know if it was allowed, but the view from the outside was very beautiful.
- Lindensaal
Located next to the castle, grab a bench on this square with a view of the lake and the houses in the distance on the other side of the lake. The view is marvelous. The Murten museum is right next to
- Playgrounds for children
Walking from the train station in the direction of the castle(left at the roundabout), you will come walk by a fenced playground just next to the castle(with the city wall in the back). Another playground is on the promenade at the lake.
- Lake
The lake is certainly the place for people to meet in the summer and enjoy long days. The promenade, beautiful and longer than one would expect for a city of this size, is great for
During the year, the city offers a range of events to its visitors, of which the best known to the Swiss
I hope you like the tips andmake the trip to Murten, let me know how you liked it!
Love,
Rita
If you like historic, picturesque and charming cities like this, be sure to check our other posts on cities in Switzerland and Europe.
