Curiosities of the Freiburg Funicular (Switzerland)

I admit that old trains have always caught my attention and, likewise, the historic funiculars. Is that your case?

Well, if so, I will tell you that in Freiburg, riding a Switzerland, you find a true relic, specifically, a funicular that works by counterweight…of sewage.

In your visit of Fribrugo you will see that it is a city with a very special configuration, as it extends through the wooded hills that surround the valley through which the river runs sarin. On its banks is located the Auge neighborhood, the oldest in this medieval city, where some of the most interesting corners are, such as the wooden bridge known as Bern bridge.

To communicate with the historic center this and other neighborhoods of the so-called Lower Town, in 1899 a funicular was built in which, by means of two wooden cars that go up and down simultaneously, you can avoid having to climb a large slope on foot.

Apart from the attraction that a historic funicular of these characteristics has for some (as is my case...), the one in Freiburg has the added advantage of being the only one left in Europe functioning thanks to the city's wastewater counterweight.

For this purpose, it has installed a system that makes it possible to take advantage of the water from the sewers, which receive and evacuate the two cars that make up the funicular. To this end, each car has the capacity to store up to 3.000 liters.

Staircase parallel to the Freiburg funicular in Switzerland

El Freiburg funicular It has a length of 121 meters and an average inclination of 525 percent.

Next to the funicular you can see a staircase with a wooden cover that runs parallel to the tracks, and is the option to go up or down the hill on foot if you want to save the time. price of the bill (2,90 Swiss francs / 2,40 euros), an amount that is included in the city's transportation voucher.

Of course, you have to take into account the Freiburg funicular operating hours They are every day, from 9,30:19 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.

Finally, I want to point out that from the top of the funicular you have some of the best panoramic views of the city of Freiburg and its river.