Nearly 250'000 people live in the canton, which is divided into seven districts and 200 parishes. The surface area measures 1'671 square kilometres, which means that there are 152 inhabitants per square kilometre.
The population of the Pays de Fribourg is much more colourful than the black and white of the canton's flag might suggest. Its main particularity is its bilingualism - the mother tongue of two- thirds of the inhabitants is French while one-third have German as their first language.
The people of Fribourg place great importance on their origins, as can be seen in the omnipresence of folk traditions. What would the Pays de Fribourg be without its thanksgiving ("bénichon"), religious holidays, and "désalpe" - that festivity surrounding the annual return of the herds of embellished cows to the valleys?
Folklore, traditions? All that might lead you to think that the people of Fribourg are not open to the rest of the world, but don't be mistaken. Each year in August, several folk groups from all around the world come to Fribourg to participate in the renowned International Folk Get-Together. Throughout the year, Fribourg organizes festivals that are renowned beyond Switzerland's borders: opportunities to celebrate art in all its forms - ancient music, classical music, sacred music, jazz, funk, folk, rock, theatre, dance, films, photography. This multicultural characteristic of the Pays de Fribourg is exactly what has attracted artists of various nationalities to settle in the Pays de Fribourg.
Fribourg's bilingual university, its basket and hockey teams give the city an international aspect. If you're looking for nightlife, there's Le Gothard, "Elvis et moi", Le Belvédère, the cellars in Fribourg's old town that are given a fresh layer of paint for Carnival and the "Ah, le joli mois de mai!" Festival... friendly bars and cafés where the inhabitants of Fribourg love to meet are to be found everywhere.
The people of Fribourg place great importance on their origins, as can be seen in the omnipresence of folk traditions. What would the Pays de Fribourg be without its thanksgiving ("bénichon"), religious holidays, and "désalpe" - that festivity surrounding the annual return of the herds of embellished cows to the valleys?
Folklore, traditions? All that might lead you to think that the people of Fribourg are not open to the rest of the world, but don't be mistaken. Each year in August, several folk groups from all around the world come to Fribourg to participate in the renowned International Folk Get-Together. Throughout the year, Fribourg organizes festivals that are renowned beyond Switzerland's borders: opportunities to celebrate art in all its forms - ancient music, classical music, sacred music, jazz, funk, folk, rock, theatre, dance, films, photography. This multicultural characteristic of the Pays de Fribourg is exactly what has attracted artists of various nationalities to settle in the Pays de Fribourg.
Fribourg's bilingual university, its basket and hockey teams give the city an international aspect. If you're looking for nightlife, there's Le Gothard, "Elvis et moi", Le Belvédère, the cellars in Fribourg's old town that are given a fresh layer of paint for Carnival and the "Ah, le joli mois de mai!" Festival... friendly bars and cafés where the inhabitants of Fribourg love to meet are to be found everywhere.
