Lake Schiffenen, its Nature, Castles, Magdalene Einsiedelei and History

27 April 2024

Lake Schiffenen (Lac de Schiffenen in French, Schiffenensee in German) is a reservoir near the city of Fribourg/Freiburg. It is located in the Sarine Valley (Vallée de la Sarine), named after the river Sarine (Saane in German).

Kleinbösingen, St. Jakobskirche and ancient Roman columns

The dam near the villages of Kleinbösingen and Gurmels was completed in 1963, after which the valley filled up, marking another era for residents.

The Sarine flows further after the dam to the Aare at Oltigen (canton of Bern). On the other side of the lake, the famous Viaduc bridge (1862), near the city of Fribourg/Freiburg, marks the other end of the lake.

The dam

Its length is about 13 kilometres, and its maximum width is less than 500 metres. However, it is much narrower in most places, making the lake look like a fjord.

Several other villages are on the lake’s banks, including Barberêche, Düdingen, Granges-Paccot, and La Sonnaz. All have their charms. La Sonnaz is home to the rowing club Société d’Aviron Fribourg. Barberêche is the namesake of the largest of the three castles on the lake’s cliffs. Before the lake was created, these castles were on the edge of the valley. The other two castles are Grand-Vivy and Petit-Vivy.

This region also had a culture of bathhouses and spas as early as the 15th century. The village of Bad Bonn was famous for its mineral springs and bathhouse. Unfortunately for the village, it was located in the valley, and 1963 marked the end of a centuries-long culture. However, a new complex of the same name was built on the shores of the lake.

The Magdalene Einsiedelei in Räsch, near Düdingen, was a place of (religious) contemplation and hermits for centuries. The Einsiedelei (a hermitage) consists of a chapel and (living) spaces in rocks.

It has been known since the 15th century and was consecrated on 8 July 1691 by Bishop Pierre de Montenach (1633-1707) in honour of St Mary Magdalene.

The complex consists of various rooms for living and praying with a total length of 120 metres. The sandstone floor bears witness to fossilised sand dunes that testify to the presence of a sea around 20 million years ago (see also the Glacier Garden in Lucerne).

The Hermits are long gone, but the place and its interesting geological history, including fossils, is open to the public.

The Magdalena Einsiedelei