The bridge Sainte-Apolline brug in Villars-sur-Glâne

30 April 2024

The existence of the Pont de Sainte-Apolline in Villars-sur-Glâne near the abbey of Hautrive (canton of Fribourg) was first confirmed in a document in 1243. The first stone bridge was built around 1508 to replace the wooden bridge. The chapel was first mentioned in 1147.

Saint Apolline was burned in Alexandria in 248 after her teeth were extracted; for this reason, people still blame her for bad teeth and toothache. Consequently, many rotten teeth have been found near the chapel!

The Pont de Sainte-Apolline and the chapel are on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella.

(Source and further information: www.fribourgtourisme.ch)

Le Pont de Sainte-Apolline. Vignette ornant la carte communale de 1851