St. Nikolaus-Kathedrale, Fribourg, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The St. Nicholas Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas) in Fribourg is the city's great Gothic church, standing above the old town and the Sarine gorge with a tower of about 74 metres. It is known for its late medieval stonework and for the Art Nouveau stained glass of the Polish artist Józef Mehoffer, which fills the interior with colour.

The story behind it

Building began at the end of the 13th century, around 1283, and went on for generations. The tall tower was completed in the late 15th century and still dominates the skyline of the old town. For most of its life the church was a collegiate church. It only became a cathedral in 1924, when it became the seat of the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg.

The glass is the most striking later addition. Mehoffer worked on the windows from 1895 until 1936, so the project took four decades. The result is a modern, richly coloured counterpoint to the medieval architecture. The cathedral is also known for its organ, built by Aloys Mooser in 1834 and famous for its vox humana stop, which imitates the human voice.

What to look for

• The tower rises above the main entrance, and its height and slender lines are best appreciated by stepping back into the square in front.
• The late Gothic sculpture of the Last Judgment in the main portal rewards a slow look at its many small figures.
• Mehoffer's stained glass windows glow in strong colours when the sun hits them, and each one tells a different scene.
• The Mooser organ and its richly decorated case stand out in the nave, and it is worth looking up at them even if you do not hear them played.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the interior, longer if you want to study the windows or take the tower climb, if it is open. Check current opening hours and access.
• Visit when the light is good, as the stained glass looks best on a bright day.
• The cathedral is a place of worship, so keep your voice low and check whether a service or rehearsal is under way.
• The old town streets and the bridges over the Sarine are close by, so you can combine the visit with a walk through the lower town.

See it on a quest

The cathedral works well as one stop on Fribourg: Hunting the flying dragon, a self-guided walk through the old town. You reach the cathedral on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no fixed departure time.