Lac de la Gruyère

The lake of Gruyère, at the gates of the Swiss Prealps, is the 2nd biggest artificial lake of Switzerland, after Lake Dix (Grande-Dixence). Scenic Ogoz Island, with its castle ruins and pretty chapel, is the last remains of the drowned village of Pont-en-Ogoz.



Lac de la Gruyère

Lake Gruyère is located in the canton of Fribourg, between the towns of Bulle and Fribourg, at the gateway to the Pre-Alps. With a length of 13.5 km, it is the second largest artificial lake in Switzerland, after the Grande-Dixence. It was formed following the construction of the Rossens dam.

For a great view of the lake, you can stop at the Restoroute-Motel de la Gruyère, halfway between Lausanne and Bern on the A12 motorway.

The island of Ogoz, to the north of the lake, is the last remnant of the former fortified village of Pont-en-Ogoz, which was drowned when the lake was formed. Located between Le Bry and Pont-la-Ville, there are a few remains including castle ruins and a chapel.

Completed in 1948 on the course of the Sarine, the Rossens dam is an arch dam 320m long and 83m high, representing a volume of 255,000 m3.

The Sarine is called Saane in German and gave its name to the Saanenland (region of Gstaad), otherwise known as the Gessenay, an eastern extension of the Pays-d'Enhaut. It is a 126km long river that runs longitudinally through the canton of Fribourg and has its source at the Sanetsch Pass, in the commune of Savièse, north of Sion (Valais).

To find out more, feel free to browse our pages devoted to the island of Ogoz, the legend of the Devil's Bridge, the Rossens dam and the Sarine.

(texts compiled from various sources, including Wikipedia and the Ogoz Island Association)

CONTACT ADDRESS
USEFUL LINKS
SWISS CANTON
OUR PANORAMIC GUIDE
Broye, Fribourg, Gruyère
This guide features more places in the same region, check them out!
© fusions.ch 1988-2024
All rights reserved for all countries