For lots of families with children in Switzerland, Schwarzsee is one of the best places to spend short vacations. It is a lake in Fribourg in the western part of Switzerland. There are lots of activities both children and adults enjoy. In this article, I will be recommending some activities to do for family trips including land and water activities.
1. Water activities in Schwarzsee
When it comes to water activities, the best and cheapest option would be swimming in the lake. There are small diving boards in the water so it would be very fun to jump in and out of the water or just have a swimming break on the boards.
The other activity is to rent a paddleboat, which is some sort of boat where you paddle with your legs to accelerate it. These paddle boats come in different shapes and colors that are animal-themed so it is very fun picking which one you’ll take. It is a great option because you can ride the paddle boats to the middle of the lake and jump straight into the water.
You can easily rent it at the hotel right in front of the lake: Hostellerie am Schwarzsee, for 20 Swiss Frank per hour. Next, another activity is SUV rowing. SUV has become a very popular sport in Europe these years, it is where people can sit or stand on a surfboard and row on the lake. There are places where you can rent SUV boards but most families will bring their own.
2. Hikes
Schwarzsee is located between mountains, therefore, there are tons of hiking paths you can choose from. This hiking trail that I will be sharing is an easy hiking trail for beginners and anyone who's only looking for an easy hike.
The duration is about 2 hours, you start by taking the Schwarzsee lift and go up the mountain. Once you are up the mountain, you turn to the right and that is where the hiking trail starts. The trial is mostly flat through the way you will also be able to see the wonderful view and meet some cows. If you just follow the hiking trail, it would lead you down to Schwarzsee again so that last part is going downhill. If you need to, perhaps bring some hiking sticks with you so you feel better when going down the mountain. Along the trials, there are some nice and cute restaurants for hikers to grab a drink and some snack.
3. Take a walk in the city
After experiencing all those outdoor activities, you could also plan a day trip to the Fribourg city and look around. It is a fantastic French-speaking city with very old buildings and sculptures from medieval times.
From Schwarzsee taking the bus would only take about 50 minutes to the city. From there, you can explore the churches, castles, little stores, and local restaurants. One of the most famous churches in the area Cure Catholique Romaine de St-Nicolas is a must-visit, it is a small church but is worth visiting. However, taking photos or videos in the church is not allowed.
Afterward, you can walk to the Fribourg Municipality tower to look at the whole view of the city. The tower is very tall and walking up the stairs will take 5 to 10 minutes, so elders or younger children, might consider something else to do. However, if you are able to do it, I will definitely recommend visiting.
4. Mountain bikes
Right next to Schwarzsee, there is a lift to go up to the mountain. By taking the lift up the mountain, you can rent a mountain scooter and ride down. Once you get off the lift, you will see the rental place right in front of you. The price is reasonable and is a great activity to experience. The scooters come in different size so is suitable for younger kids as well. They will also provide protection for your knees and elbows, etc, you can choose if you need them or not. For people who never tried it before, I will recommend putting on protections before the way down is quite steep and rocky. It was a very fun experience and you will be able to look at the view of Schwarzsee and the beautiful landscape of the mountain while riding down. If you are lucky, you will also meet some cows in the middle of the road while riding down, but be aware to not bump into them or touch them since they are not it the fence, There might still be some danger but otherwise, you wouldn't have to worry.
5. Visit the HR GIGER MUSEUM
This museum is with surreal paintings and sculptures by the artist known for the "Alien" movies, set in a medieval castle. I was really surprised with how impressive all the artworks are, for Alien movie fans, it's definitely a must-go.
The art style in the museum is unique and more extreme, so children that are too young, might not find it fascinating, or might even be scared. There is also a section for people who are above eighteen years old to visit, so parents who are thinking of bringing their children should consider this. Along with the museum, there is also a castle you can visit that is right up the hill, this castle would be great for children to visit, they have storytelling machines that all the children I met there LOVED. Of course, there are also restaurants that serve nice cheese fondue and raclette if you would want some nice Swiss food. There are also souvenir shops where you can take a look at all kinds of cute things.
These are some activities that my family and I really enjoyed when we were in Schwarzsee so I would hope that you guys could try out and visit some of them one day and tell me your feedback.
Comments