Pont-la-Ville is in the Gruyère District in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. At Lac de La Gruyère, swimming, relaxation and walks take centre stage; the Sentier du Lac de La Gruyère also passes through the village. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether the lakeshore, a trail you can walk in stages, or the golf course should be the focus of your stay. This makes it easier to tailor the village’s different options to your travel plans.
Lakeshore and walks
The recreational area on the lakeshore, near the Chapelle de Thusy, has a grassy area as well as picnic and barbecue facilities. Toilets and a shower are also available. This lets you combine a walk by Lac de La Gruyère with a break at the landscaped area. Swimming, relaxation and walks are among the activities the lake offers at Pont-la-Ville.
There is a large, free car park at the community centre at Route de la Müllera 1. From there, the lakeshore or the lakeside trail is a 15- to 20-minute walk. This provides a practical reference point for planning a visit to the water; before setting off, check how this walk fits into your day’s plans.
Hiking in stages
The Sentier du Lac de La Gruyère passes through Pont-la-Ville, is around 44 kilometres long and can be walked in several stages. It is considered easy and is easily accessible by public transport. The route also features a 110-metre suspension bridge and five educational panels. The wooden sculpture «Géant des Armaillis» has also been installed in Pont-la-Ville along the Sentier du Lac.
Another route by the lake is the Sentier de l'eau: an easy trail through peaceful, relaxing countryside, with water as its theme. When choosing between the routes, you can consider a longer trail with several stages and an easy, water-themed route as two different hiking options.
Golf with views of the lake and Pre-Alps
Golf de la Gruyère is located in Pont-la-Ville and offers a choice of 9 or 18 holes. From the course, you can look out over Lac de La Gruyère and the Fribourg Pre-Alps. Established in 1993, the course is 5,038 metres long and lies at an altitude of 740 metres. These details give the golf course its own distinctive profile among the local activities, without making golf the only possible focus of a stay.
Golf de la Gruyère has a restaurant and a hotel. The restaurant highlights regional flavours and products from the area. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider whether your trip will revolve more around lakeside walks, hiking or golf; these activities offer different starting points for planning your stay.
Village history around the Chapelle de Thusy
The Chapelle de Thusy is a remnant of Pont-la-Ville’s former parish church, first mentioned in archival records in 1148. Part of the former church building became the Chapelle de Thusy; some religious services are still held there today. The church in Pont-la-Ville was restored and extended in 1453. These historical connections add a cultural point of interest to a visit to the lakeshore near the chapel.
The wooden bridge is also part of the village’s history: it was built around 1200 to connect Avry-devant-Pont with Pont-la-Ville. The legend of «Le Pont de Thusy» is associated with the year 1544. Today, the Pont-la-Ville–Corbières route passes by the Chapelle de Thusy, so the structure can also be included in your route plans.
Getting there and finding your way
Pont-la-Ville has two bus stops, at Route du Village and at Momont. Connections with a change in La Roche link the village to Fribourg and Bulle. For travel by car, the Rossens entrance to the A12 motorway is five kilometres away. If you combine a visit to the lake with the Sentier du Lac, you can also allow for the walk from the free car park at the community centre: the lakeshore or lakeside trail is a 15- to 20-minute walk from there.
This gives you several specific options to consider when planning your stay: time by the lake, a hike on one of the trails, golf or a visit to the Chapelle de Thusy. When looking for holiday apartments, consider which of these options you would like to shape your days in Pont-la-Ville.
Discover more destinations: Le Pâquier, Bulle, Echarlens, Corbières Fr, Bas-Intyamon, Pont-En-Ogoz, Villarvolard, Montbovon.
See the main travel overview: Gruyère.
