March 2025
Stats: The full section from Fribourg to Vinelz is 47km (520m-H, or 680m-H) ( https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-59/stage-4 ) , but today I did only 30km and 300m elevation gain, ending the tour in Morat/Murten.
Today, the middle of March, the temperature has a touch of Spring, but really just a touch …. ; and the sky is laden with a veil of Sahara’s dust, keeping the sun from warming me . Still, I want to do a little ride, away from my surroundings. I look at the map and train connections and settle for the nearby Fribourg region, easy and not too far.
From Fribourg’s train station I bike through the old city with its beautiful old beige sandstone buildings and views of the cathedral.
The path quickly leaves the town via an old Gate and presents me with a shot of the beautiful Poya Bridge, just recently built (2014). This is an 851m-long cable-stayed bridge over the Sarine/Saane River.
But my crossing over the river happens a few kilometers afterwards via the Grandfey Viaduct. The belly of this old stone bridge has been repurposed for pedestrians and cyclists. It is a full functioning train bridge so you can feel the thunder of the train above as you pass just below it. Thankfully, they have created a little ramp on the side of the stairs so I can push the bike without lifting its 25kg.
On the other side of the viaduct one has the possibility to visit the Madeleine Hermitage, just a couple of km away. The 120m-long hermitage was created in the 17th century, carved into the cliffs by 2 hermits. More info at this link: https://fribourg.ch/en/fribourg/architecture-and-monuments/madeleine-hermitage/. But its caves are still closed and so I skip it (open April to October).
From here the path goes through countryside roads. This part mirrors Route 99:02 in the opposite direction, route that I biked almost 10 years ago, in 2016. Indeed, it was my very 2nd bike tour in Switzerland, but I don’t remember it at all, probably because its countryside has the typical landscape of any other Swiss farmland .
Close to Morat is the magnificent Münchenwiler Castle, and yes, this one I remember. It has a Gothic vibe, not for the architecture but for the decadent appearance, enrobed in ivy. It is a former Cluniac priory, initially built in 1100, and then rebuilt/converted into a castle in the 16th century . Now it has a restaurant and hotel. Wikipedia mentions ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Münchenwiler_Castle ) : “In 1080-81 the village was given by the brothers de Vilar to Cluny Abbey. Shortly thereafter a priory was founded, which served as a way station for pilgrims on the Way of St. James. The Priory church was built in 1100, using spolia from the Roman ruins at Avenches. The small priory consisted of a prior and 2-4 monks……”
As the panoramic view on Lake Morat opens up , I find a nice bench and the perfect spot where to have a picnic lunch.
Finally in Morat I enjoy the beautiful villagescape, its main street lined by colorful arched buildings. There are a few Tea-Rooms/ pastry shops and the choice of where to sit for coffee is hard!
The time has come to get back home. Truth be told , I left the end of this tour open, thinking initially to add a bike loop around lake Morat, but once reached the village, my wish to double the distance left me. Additionally, Morat offered easy options for train connections.
Links to Introduction and nearby sections:
bikeswitzerlandblog 