Greng lies on the southern shore of Lake Murten, the smallest of the three Jura lakes, in a rural setting in the lower Lake District of the Canton of Fribourg. The Pointe de Greng and its delta are what shape the landscape for visitors in particular: here, a partially wooded wetland, lakeside paths and prehistoric sites meet in one place. The municipality is within easy reach of Bern, Fribourg, Lausanne and Neuchâtel. This makes it easy to combine a stay in Greng with a wider regional itinerary.
Delta, fens and lakeshore
The Pointe de Greng, also known as Grengspitz, is a roughly 400-metre-long spit of land formed from an ancient lake delta. The Greng Delta is partially wooded and surrounded by reeds and sandy shallows. It also includes fens of cantonal importance designated “Murtenseeufer” (Lake Murten shore), with inventory numbers 114-003 and 114-004. The Greng nature reserve has large clearings and reed beds along the lakeshore, where woodpeckers can be heard. Wetland, lakeside forest and open areas give the landscape its varied contours.
Trails around the Pointe de Greng
Several footpaths at the Pointe connect the obelisk commemorating the Battle of Murten with the village of Greng and lead to the lakeshore at the end of the delta. A circular trail at the Pointe is listed as approximately four kilometres long. Check local conditions before setting out.
Other trails each have their own highlights: the Morat–Avenches hiking trail follows a forest path along the lakeshore to the Greng peninsula. The “Du site romain à Avenches-plage” route runs from the Roman site in Avenches to Greng, then continues along Lake Murten. On the “Fribourg en diagonale” Fribourg–Murten stage, the route from Greng passes through the lakeside forest. The stage is accessible by public transport; check current connections before travelling. Faoug railway station, on the regional Payerne–Murten line, is the starting point for the hike to the Pointe de Greng.
Stilt-house history on Lake Murten
The tip of the Greng peninsula contains four archaeological sites dating from the Middle and Late Neolithic and the Late Bronze Age. A prehistoric pile-dwelling site at the Pointe de Greng has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2011. The Late Bronze Age site extends across dry land and into Lake Murten. Here, landscape and history are closely intertwined: the transition from land to water is part of both the delta and the site’s geographical extent.
Picnics, swimming and dining
The Grengspitz picnic area has a table with seating for 20 people, as well as two additional benches for 12 people. A grill grate is provided, and the area offers views of Vully. The barbecue area is at the edge of the forest, right by the lake, and approximately 600 metres from the car park. As the location and access may change when parking arrangements change, check the parking situation before your visit.
You can swim in Lake Murten right at the barbecue area; observe local safety conditions and any temporary restrictions. The swimming spots at Grengspitz are a five- to ten-minute walk through the forest from the car park by the obelisk in Meyriez. For a meal, Restaurant Atelier Greng can accommodate up to 35 people; reservations are recommended.
Discover more destinations: Charmey, Muntelier, Kerzers, Ried Bei Kerzers, Misery-Courtion, Villarepos, Bas-Vully, Wallenried
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