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Home » Guided Tours, Excursions » Old Town of Murten
 

Old Town of Murten



The first phase of construction dates back to 1255. Peter II, the Count of Savoy ordered the castle’s construction. Later the castle was extended. Towers and buildings were added. During the revolution years, from 1797 to 1802, the castle served as a hospital, prison and barracks for the French army, which had invaded the town. The French destroyed the ossuary and also demolished the gate and the Tower of Avenches; the so-called “upper gate,” which was located where the building of the local court now stands. The entrance to the castle was protected by a moat and a draw bridge. The castle is currently used as the seat of the Murten prefecture, capital of the Lake District of the Canton of Fribourg.
 

was built outside the city walls by Adolphe Fraisse in 1885. Together with the nearby rectory, it is in Neo-Gothic style; the tower was added in 1925.
 

was built outside the city walls by Adolphe Fraisse in 1885. Together with the nearby rectory, it is in Neo-Gothic style; the tower was added in 1925.
 

built in 1478-1480 in late Gothic style, replaced the chapel built arround 1239 and dedicated to Saint Catherine. The plaque on the wall near the entrance was placed in memory of Guillaume Farel, the Reformer of the city.
 

Near the German Church visitors leave the city walls. According to historical record, a chapel existed here in 1399 and was dedicated to Saint Mary. It was rebuilt in 1710 in a Baroque style, some earlier parts were left untouched: The Choir, in Gothic style, dates from 1683 and its walls belong to the fortified tower at the east end of the defences. The church containsa polygonal pulpit, carved in a single piece of oak in 1484, with eight pinnacles ending in a finial. The Stall, also in oak, has thirty places and was made between 1494 an 1498. On the ceiling a stucco relief, in Louis XIV style, unites the coats of arms of Berne, Fribourg and Murten.
 

Rectory was built in 1729 in the Berne country house style. The plaque affixed to the sidewall indicates that Albert Bitzius, better known as Jeremias Gotthelf, was born here in 1797.
 

Murten’s oldest promenade, dating back to 1711. Below the Castle, once destroyed before the Battle of Murten and rebuilt in 1524 stands.
 

The early defences were probably constructed of mounds of earth, walls and moats, now occupied by gardens. The city walls with numerous towers are the best preserved con-tinuous defensive constructions of their kind in Switzerland. The bottom fifteen layers of the German Church Tower are medieval (12th Century) and were built before the actual town.
 

outside the walls in front of the Berne Tor, was founded between 1836 and 1839 by Johann Jakob Weibel. It is a testimony of the Liberalism particular to the first half of the 19th Century. It is also the oldest school house in Switzerland owing its originality to Italian Renaissance and following the rules of Munich School of Architecture.
 

a late Gothic jewel, which was built in the mid-16th century. In 1874, the municipality wanted to tear down this building to prepare a direct route from the city to the railway station (the Broye valley train track was inaugurated in 1876). Fortunately, there was not enough money budgeted for this work, so the building was left standing!
 

The Mill operated up until WWII and now it houses the city Museum collection. Many items related to the history of Murten are on display: Burgundy treasures, old coins, copper cabinets and a Multi Media Show of the Battle of Murten. Throughout the year, thematic and special exhibitions are featured at the Museum.
 

the gateway out of the city in the direction of Berne, stands at the end of the Hauptgasse, the main street. It was designed by the noted Berne architect, Niklaus Hebler, who was also responsible for the famous Clock Tower in Berne. The Berne Tor was rebuilt in 1778 but contains a clock mechanism made in 1712 by Ducommun Brothers in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is still wound every day.
 

The first city hall was destroyed in 1416 by the great fire. The building as it stands now was built in 1748. The ground floor of the building is used by the municipality for official events and the rest of the building serves as offices.
 

Invented by Daniel Burla, a local sculptor, it combines five sun-dials and a fountain, and gives the time of many different places in the world.