Since 1981, Château de Romont has been home to the Vitromusée Romont, Switzerland’s stained-glass and glass art museum. The castle was built around 1240 by Peter II of Savoy—building history and glass art come together here in one place. Romont is the capital of the Glâne district, one of seven districts in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. A 1,500-metre-long promenade along the city walls offers panoramic views from Mont Blanc to the Jura.
Discover art and history
The Musée du papier peint in Mézières preserves wallpaper, with the oldest examples dating from the late 18th century. They can be seen in twelve restored historic salons. The museum’s programme includes concerts, a craft market, and creative workshops for adults and children. If you would like to plan your visit around an event, check the event dates beforehand.
The parish church of Mézières also makes its own statement: 34 of its windows feature abstract stained-glass designs by Yoki. At the Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu, several historical periods come together. The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1268; its first church, consecrated in 1346, has been preserved in approximately 90 percent of its original state. The church also has remarkable stained-glass windows by British artist Brian Clarke, inspired by Cistercian art.
Château de Rue was first mentioned in 1152 and rebuilt by Peter of Savoy between 1260 and 1268. The Circuit Secret Rue offers a different way to experience the town’s history: it uses five artist-designed locations in Rue and the castle to create an immersive historical experience. The Chapel of La Neirigue, built in 1641, is known for its stained-glass windows.
Following in Marguerite Bays’s footsteps
The routes associated with Marguerite Bays vary in length and duration. The short circular route, Sur les pas de Sainte Marguerite Bays, starts at the church in Siviriez, is 5.8 kilometres long, and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes without breaks. The Grand parcours Sur les pas de Marguerite Bays is listed as a moderately difficult route, 9 kilometres long and taking 3 hours. You can compare the two options based on their stated distances and durations.
The Grand parcours passes the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Bois, which is associated with Marguerite Bays and considered a special place for reflection on the saint. Since 2000, the parish church in Siviriez has had a chapel dedicated to Marguerite Bays. A pilgrimage event dedicated to Marguerite Bays takes place on the 27th of every month at the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Siviriez. If you plan to attend, check the date in advance. In La Pierraz, the farm where Marguerite Bays lived is open to the public; at the family home there, the Grand parcours includes pilgrim accommodation.
Hiking and cycling
For mountain biking, the Tour de la Glâne à VTT covers a total of 90 kilometres along the boundaries of the Glâne district. It includes a southern loop, a northern loop, and the full route. GPS devices for the tour can be rented from Sports Aventure in Romont, Rte de Billens 14, 1680 Romont; check with them about rentals in advance.
The Sentier du Vitrail is a hilly trail through Glâne that takes in churches with remarkable, well-preserved stained-glass windows. The route is 16 kilometres long, is considered fairly easy, and is listed as taking 4 hours and 25 minutes. It can be reached by public transport via the Romont poste bus station or Romont railway station. Another cycling option is the 30-kilometre Sentier du Vitrail à vélo. Before setting off, it is advisable to check the latest route information and connections.
Nature and regional experiences
La Gouille is a wetland with an amphibian breeding site and an educational trail. The Chutes de Chavannettes are waterfalls in the Glâne district, near the medieval town of Rue. You can reach them from Rue on foot or by bicycle; vehicles are not permitted to drive all the way to the waterfalls. As access rules may change, check the conditions before your visit.
You can also experience the regional landscape along a route: the western part of the Sense–Glâne–Veveyse regional route is somewhat flatter. Streams cross green dairy country; views extend to Lac de la Gruyère, the medieval hilltop town of Romont, and the Alps. For an insight into local cheesemaking, the Fromagerie régionale de Mézières offers tours on request, with explanations of the production process followed by a tasting.
Discover more destinations: Romont Fr, Villorsonnens, Le Châtelard Fr, Rue, La Sarine, Brüw, Veveyse and Sense.
Return to the overview of destinations: Fribourg.
