What part of Fribourg to rent in?

Accomodation, House and Garden
1
Hi everyone,

Moving to Fribourg in 5 weeks and need to find an appartment.

Have heard that there are differences in the many areas of Fribourg.

Anyone know which would be the nicer areas to stay in?

We have not had a good chance to explore the place our selves.

Thanks

Helena

2
Hi Helena, we've lived in Fribourg since 1995, and in the commune of Villars sur Glâne, just outside Fribourg, since 1999. It's a handy place to live, with it's own CFF station, shopping centre and other amenities. It's less than 5 mins on the train into Fribourg town, about 10 by bus. Having said that, all those advantgaes come with a price, so expect to pay from 1900.- to 2300.- or so for a 4.5 room appt.

If you don't want to live in town itself, look for places like Givisiez, Corminbouef, Belfaux (a little further out though). A regie with a relaively good reputation is Giroud www.gerances-giroud.ch who are based in VSG actually. Avoid Foncia-Geco, they are shite (we should know, they were our regie for 11 years!). The old town is quite a quaint place to live and you might want to avoid Schoenberg, though I never had a problem with it.

Whereabouts are you moving from, and why to Fribourg?

3
Hey there, I'm Swiss and used to go to school in Fribourg and work there some years, now I work in Neuchatel but I still know Fribourg very well.

You don't wanna live in Schoenberg and Villars-Vert, these two areas are kinda Fribourg's bronx

As said above, there are nice villages nearby Fribourg, not far from "downtown", the public transportation are very reliable. It depends if you prefer to live in center or in the suburbs.

There are a few real stat agencies that I know (definitely avoid Geco Foncia). Check out: www.rfsa.ch - www.bulliard.ch - www.regis-sa.ch .

Fribourg is a very nice city, not big but you find everything you need, plus you're close to Zurich or Geneva (either by train or car)

If you'd like to know more about it, I recommend you check this website out: http://www.fribourgregion.ch/en/welcome.cfm ? (English version)

Hope you'll like it !!!

CHEERS

4
Small correction, the website is: www.gerances-giroud.ch

5
Thanks bug, forgot to check my link.

6
thank you

Villars sur Glane is indeed a nice place as most flats have a nice view, but due to recent constructions of building it looks a bit overcrowded for instance, especially in the 'Cormanon" sector. Still Ok if you have young children or babies. Villars is well connected to public transport system (TPF), but as said by an other expert, check you tax status before you decide where to live. Villars is rather expensive for taxes. Villars is favored by expats. Swiss community is the largest. Prices keep migrants away execept in one or 2 locations.

We lived in Givisiez, also connected to town by TPF buses. Primary schools are ok, secondary in Fribourg: it is an old rural (agriculture) overgrown village with a large industrial area on the western side. Must live as close as possible to center of village. Regie Niederer Fribourg has plenty of flats to lease there 2500CHF for a 4 bedroom flat. In Givisiez you might benefit from a more quiet and country side environment. Taxes are a bit cheaper than Villars.

Schoenberg area is favored by recent migrants communities and not well percieved for the same reason. Marly village is also a nice place to live, but there is a double embarrassment (morning and evenings) with the connecting bridge over the river Sarine. Heavy traffic when going to and coming from work.

Granges Pacot (north of Givisiez) could be also good to investigate. Same connections to TPF and closer to large supermarkets.

Cheap accomodation in Bellefaux and beyond (western side of town after Givisiez) but heavy traffic. Southern villages such as Matran and Avry are also popular. Train connections in addition to trams and buses. Depending on where you work, if you have a car, and if you have children.

Good luck

7
hey guys,

Thanks for the advice.

I think we want to look at renting in Fribourg to begin with atleast.

A 3 room with nice sized kitchen and balcony.

We are moving from Ilfracombe, North devon, England.

My partner is being relocated within the company he works for. We've always liked the look of Switzerland so we jumped at the opportunity.

Really looking froward to it.

I think his place of work is about 10 min walk from the railway station.

We are very active people so don't mind having to walk to places but would obviously be nice to have the neccesities close by.

Had a look at the websites and there seems to be enough to choose from.

Thanks again for your help.

Helena

8
Sorry forgot one element about Fribourg itself

Fribourg centre is also a good place to live with nice areas and some others not so nice (like "Perolles" which looks more like a giant detention center, but has all in its close vicinity including Mirgos). The best is for you to go have a look by yourself.

The old town (basse ville) called quartier Auge (not the eyes in German), is extremely popular with DINK (double income no kids). Less sunny because on the banks of the river below town. There is a cable car (or a funicular) and a bus connection. Little or no parking down there. Close to the public pools. Nice and cool in Summer, chilly and humid in winter.

And "Guintzet" area could be nice if you can find anything there.

9
Erm, no it isn't, it is cheaper than any other commune surrounding Fribourg town.

10
I hope this isn't a stupid question , but what do you mean by taxes in different areas?

Thanks for all your help

Helena

11
In highly simple terms, unless you will be paying tax at source, income tax is paid to the federation, the canton and the commune. Each commune can set it's own tax rate, expressed as a percentage of the cantonal rate.

12
Fribourg is Bilangual(German and French),so if you r planning to rent somewhere outside the city,remember villages close to bern r german speaking side....esply tafers,plaffein,schonberg(i am not sure) etc...

we lived in Givisiez and i highly recommend ter....nice place to live,good connection to city ..what i liked the most is their waste disposal stickers were free and their train day pass costs only 20chf with that u can travel anywer to switzerland...i miss that now....

13
Salut Helena!

Just wanted to put in my 2 centimes about living in Fribourg...

I live in the Old Town (basse ville) and please don't be put off this area by Gaillards comment - as with everywhere, everything depends largely on the appartment you find. The one I live in has a beautiful with almost no modern building in sight, gets sun all day, and is by far the warmest and driest place I have ever lived in, despite being built in the 1600s! The weekly market, a picnic by the river, and the supermarket are all a short stroll away.

If you want atmosphere and to live somewhere like no other, the basse ville is a great choice.....especially with Carnival coming up..and contrary to popular belief, a night-life does exist in Fribourg with some awesome little cave bars scattered around if you know where to look.

But make sure you start your search over a wide area.....you could find the greatest area with the worst apartments or visa versa.

Good luck!

14
[QUOTE=kiwigeek;688057]Salut Helena!

The weekly market, a picnic by the river, and the supermarket are all a short stroll away.

If you want atmosphere and to live somewhere like no other, the basse ville is a great choice.....especially with Carnival coming upQUOTE]

Sounds like my kind of place

We have a relocation agency putting together some properties in various locations. When that is done we'll come over to have a look.

Like you said much of it depends on the appartment and not just the area.

Is the old town far from the main town.

I think my partners work is 5-10min from the train station (av de tivoli) and he doesnt want to live too far from it.

Cant wait to actually see the place for my self, should be in the next 2 weeks.

Studying french every day, so hoping on getting a job soon after moving.

Cheers

15
Av de Tivoli is prctically on top of the station , so anywhere on a bus or train route would bring you fairly close. Virtually all bus routes swing by the station.

The old town is connected by a funicular to the new town, but there are also buses which go down there.

16
Hi Helena,

My husband and I lived in Beauregard (rue de la Carrière) (2 min walk from train station) for 2 years. It is a good location to live in if you work in the "city-center", also it is easy to go shopping or go out (we hardly ever used our car). The rent wasn't too expensive CHF 1'500.-- / month (2 rooms) --> http://www.rfsa.ch/ .

Now we live in Villars-sur-Glâne. My husband still catches the train everyday to Zürich, he goes to Fribourg station by "trottinette" which is a push scooter or when it snows to much, he catches the bus. Just to say that it is still easy to get to Fribourg center from Villars-sur-Glâne.

And the taxes in Villars-sur-Glâne are lower than in Fribourg

If you are interested in French lessons, in Villars-sur-Glâne, they offer lessons for CHF 50.---/semester.

Bienvenue à Fribourg ! :-)

BTW, my husband (English speaker) is looking for a job in IT close to Fribourg, so let us know if you hear about an opening job