Greetings. I have been lurking on this site for a couple of months now. Very, very informative. I finally decided to register and just wanted to say hello.

I'm in the tech. support field and come with my Turkish wife. Anyone living in Fribourg can please feel free to dispatch any manner of tips/advice etc.

Cheers,

Chase

Hi Chase,

Welcome to the EF. Fribourg is where I go to get a decent croissant . Shame we're in Zurich .

We live in Canton Fribourg,
What info are you seeking?
Normally if I want something easy to find there are 4 or 5 places, but the city is not much to visit. Except the vielle ville.

Hello, thanks for replying. What can I expect in the way of convenient shopping? Are there multiple Migros stores for groceries and or an IKEA? Fribourg seems like a difficult city to conceptualize. Small but modern? Lots of college kids? I would have to commute, but it seems maybe living in Western Berne would be a nice choice for being closer to a larger city?

Coming from California maybe you should consider Fribourg as a small town rather than a small city .

Switzerland is fairly civilised. There are supermarkets and yes, even IKEA.

Living in Berne and commuting to Fribourg will require that you get permission to live in a different canton to the one issuing your work permit. But If I were you I'd give Fribourg a chance - it's a lovely place to live. Having lived in Bern for a year, there was nothing that made me want to stay.

There are a few malls, maybe 4 or 5, but outside of the main city. pleanty hardware stores and food stores.
The closest IKEA is either East of Bern, or Lausanne (30-45 minutes by car)
City small and old. Not many new stores, but still nice to visit once in a while. bern is far better for modern shopping.
Lots of college kids is correct!
We live in Murten area which is perfectly situated between the 4 areas! Bern, Fr, Biel and Neuchatel.

I live in Fribourg. Honestly, it's a dump, there are far, FAR nicer cities in Switzerland to live in. There are a few good French restaurants, (Perolles is excellent) but almost no good ethnic ones. Old City can all be seen in a day and the rest of the city are typical cheesy Swiss modern-ish apartment blocks. Easily the worst of large-ish Swiss cities.

Oh come on, it's a perfectly agreable place, the whole medieval old town area is very well preserved and the modern bits are anonymous like in most cities. It might not be the most cosmopolitan place in the world that's for sure but it's hardly the dump you depict it to be.

Come, on. We have too short of a life to waste on Fribourg. Sure it's good if you have a family, but if not... Stay away... Far away...

NO way, life in Fribourg makes you live longer... It is like time stands still!!!

So what are you looking for in a city that Fribourg doesn't have?

Nick.

Big parking spaces, lots of junk food establishments and lap dancing clubs If I read the Dude correctly.

want to share the horror story Bob ? I know Bern is a lot more sedate than Zurich ...

Well... Yeah... Why the hell not? I want the city to be vibrant, it doesn't have to be a megapolis for that. Lugano is barely bigger and it just feels more... alive. There is not a whole lot of things to do in Fribourg and people have the "local" mentality, it's all a sad, sad place for a yuppie like me.

Fair enough, I don't know much Fribourg and it probably is a bit dull for a young bloke who's not into ice hockey or drinking beer in a smoky bar that smells of cheese but for a family guy like the Califorian chap who started the thread, I would think it could be a pretty good place.

I have to say that after having seen your picture, I don't understand your need for lapdancing clubs, I thought you might have been some fat, no-neck sweatie but you are in fact a rather handsome chap and you seem to have a bit of money and a fancy car...Girls should be queueing up especially if you got a Canadian accent.

The mullet has to go though

__________________
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P.S.
Is California really a nationality?

if your from California yes ....

So would that make me Maritonian? (from the maritimes)

Have you seen the women in Fribourg!!!!!!

A Bern joke a Lawyer told me.

"How do you know you are leaving the canton of Bern and entering the canton of Fribourg?
The cows get prettier then the women!"

And his wife is from Fribourg!!!

Actually I like strip clubs back from Quebec, we are renowned for them. Mexican prices and Swedish quality and FULL CONTACT. I don't care for the full contact, but it's a pretty good way to get a few beers and catch up with old friends. Girls don't mind going either.
The difference with Switzerland as I found out, is that strip clubs here are actually brothels and have no "stripping" in the classic North American sense.

Basically, I think Fribourg is somewhat more fun then Llandidno but less so then Rhyl. Obviously if you have a family then it's great.