Attractions and Places To See around Ponthaux - Top 20

Finally – the ramp for slow-moving traffic is currently under construction. From the end of 2026, the steep ramp next to the stairs and the artwork by Richard Serra will finally be accessible.

Super viaduct, great view

The narrow streets lead us down to the Bern Bridge, the only covered wooden bridge in Fribourg. Built in the 13th century, it was sawn down in 1340 to cut off the attacking Bernese. This bridge, the oldest in Fribourg, is listed as a protected structure of national importance by the Federal Inventory of Historic Communication Routes in Switzerland. It is widely used today, including by motorized traffic, so much so that a complete renovation has been decided for 2025.

The Bern Bridge is the only covered wooden bridge in Fribourg. It was built in the 13th century and sawn into pieces in 1340 to block the attacking Bernese. This oldest bridge in Fribourg is listed as a protected structure of national importance in the Federal Inventory of Historic Roads. Unfortunately, it is now also heavily used by motorized traffic, requiring a complete renovation starting in 2025.

Stupid climb to the bridge...but great view!

There is a great, bilingual book about the creation of the Schiffenen reservoir, over which the viaduct runs, with many pictures of the time before the Saane was dammed. It also has portraits of contemporary witnesses who had roots in the Saane valley. The book was published in 2012 by the O.S.K.A.R. association. Orders can be placed on the website: www.verein-oskar.ch

The city wall must have been huge if such a gate is so far away from the city...

THE EAST GATE - A MONUMENTAL BUILDING IN A DOMINANT LOCATION High above the town center on the plain is the East Gate - one of the two monumental entrances to the city wall of Aventicum. The construction of the city wall around 72 AD created new entrances to the city. The one on the east side is controlled by a gate building. This square building measuring 28 x 20 m is flanked on the outside by two octagonal towers. Two wide passages, which cross a round open-air courtyard, were intended for vehicles and two narrower side passages were reserved for pedestrians. Two openings on the city side allowed access to the two side towers and to the upper floor of the gate building. The preserved architectural elements testify to the magnificent and richly decorated character of the facades. In this way they announced the political power and economic prosperity of the Aventicum colony both internally and externally. LA PORTE DE L'EST - UN OUVRAGE MONUMENTAL - EN SITUATION DOMINANTE Au-dessus du center-ville situé dans la plaine se trouve la porte de l'Est - l'une des deux entrées monumentales du mur d'enceinte d'Aventicum. Avec la construction du mur d'enceinte vers 72 apr. J.-C., de new accesses to the ville sont créés. The oriental access is controlled by a porte, édifice quadrangulaire de 28 x 20 m wide on the exterior of two octogonal tours. Deux larges couloirs cen-traux traversant une cour circulaire à ciel ouvert sont réservés aux véhicules et deux passages lateéraux, plus étroits, aux piétons. On you can enter the two lateral tours and access the upper level of the porte property for two outer tours on the other side of the city. The architectonic elements preserve the appearance of the ostentatious character and rich decoration of the façades. Ils annonçaient ainsi, tant à l'intérieur qu'à l'extérieur, la puissance politique et la prosperité économique de la colonie d'Aventicum. THE EAST GATE - A MONUMENTAL STRUCTURE - ON A DOMINANT LOCATION Above the city center located in the plain is the East Gate - one of the two monumental gates of the city wall of Aventicum. With the construction of the city wall around 72 AD, new entrances to the city were created. The eastern one was monitored by a 28 x 20 m quadrangular gate flanked by two external octogonal towers. Two wide central passages crossing a circular open-air courtyard were reserved for vehicles, and two more narrow lateral passages served for pedestrians. One could enter the two lateral towers and reach the upper floor of the gate proper through two openings on the city side. The preserved architectural elements suggest that the facades were richly adorned, thus boasting the political power and the economic prosperity of the colony of Aventicum to both the local population and the outer world.