Moving in Fribourg – bilingual, between Sense, Sarine and Gruyère

Covering 1670.8 square kilometres, the Canton of Fribourg is the eighth-largest canton in Switzerland. As of 30 September 2025, 349,363 people lived here; at 209 inhabitants per square kilometre, it is slightly less densely populated than the Swiss average. Its official name is Etat de Fribourg / Staat Freiburg, which already shows what makes a move in the Canton of Fribourg special: it belongs to both French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland.

Two landscapes, a difference of 1959 metres

Topographically, the canton divides into two areas. The northern and western part belongs to the Swiss Mittelland, the south-east to the Fribourg Prealps. The lowest point is at 430 m on Lake Neuchâtel, the highest is the Vanil Noir at 2389 m in the Gruyère district on the border with Vaud.

For a move to the flat lake region around Lake Neuchâtel, it is usually about the parking spot and the distance to the front door. In the Prealps, we also clarify during the survey which vehicle size the access allows and whether a furniture lift shortens the carrying routes.

Which language does your new municipality speak?

About two thirds of the population speak French and just under a third German. Both are official languages; German is spoken mainly in the north and north-east. This is very noticeable in everyday life:

• Sense district and the parish of Gurmels: Senslerdeutsch
• Lake district (Seebezirk): mostly Bernese German
• Jaun in the Gruyère district: a dialect similar to that of the Bernese Oberland
• other districts: predominantly French-speaking

Language does play a role on moving day, for example when labelling boxes or when neighbours and property management at the new address speak French. We agree the arrangements with you before the removal van sets off.

Seven districts, named after rivers and lakes

Following the French model, each of the seven districts bears the name of a body of water, with «See» standing for Lake Murten. A district's administration is called the Oberamt (prefecture), its head the Oberamtmann (prefect). In total the canton has 119 political municipalities (as of January 2026). In addition there are three Fribourg enclaves located in Vaud.

To the east and north, Fribourg borders the Canton of Bern, and to the north-west, across Lake Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel. Depending on where you live, a move across the cantonal border can be shorter here than one across your own canton, for instance from the lake district to the Prealps. If you need a parking reservation, we arrange it for you with the responsible office.

Industry, construction and agriculture

In 2021, manufacturing and construction accounted for 29.1 per cent of value added. The largest company in the canton is the Liebherr Group, headquartered in Bulle. In 2023 Fribourg had the largest share of Swiss poultry production, which is also linked to Micarna AG in Courtepin. For businesses we carry out the office move outside business hours; for private households we also offer furniture assembly, final cleaning and disposal on request.

Fribourg is predominantly Roman Catholic; only in the lake district, which until 1798 was a condominium jointly ruled by Bern and Fribourg, is the majority traditionally Protestant. As a removals company from Wallisellen, we accompany you from Zurich to every district, including on a Saturday with no Saturday surcharge.

Frequently asked questions

Who helps with a senior move from Zurich to family in the Sense district?
Our team plans the entire move, from the survey in Zurich to the furnished room in the Canton of Fribourg. Together we decide which furniture fits into the new flat. There we set everything up, take surplus items away for disposal and clean the old flat on request.

How do you handle a move to Jaun, the German-speaking mountain village in Gruyère?
We plan it like a move to the Prealps: vehicle size and parking spot depend on the access to the house, and we allow realistically for the driving time from Zurich. Because German is spoken in Jaun, although the district is otherwise French-speaking, arrangements with neighbours and landlords there are straightforward.

How do you plan a move across the canton, from Lake Murten to Bulle?
As one job with two very different addresses: in the flat lake district, space in front of the building matters; in the Gruyère district, access and vehicle matter more. We look at both beforehand and choose a vehicle that suits both locations. We schedule the driving time so that unloading and assembly are not rushed.

Where is furniture stored if the house in Bulle or Murten is not ready yet?
In our furniture storage: the rooms are dry, climate-controlled and alarm-protected. We collect everything on move-out day and deliver it as soon as you can move in in the Canton of Fribourg. Charges are per cubic metre per month, and our carpenters handle assembly at the new address.

What do you watch out for when moving into an old town like Gruyères or Romont?
Short distances between van and front door, and narrow old stairwells. We clarify in advance where the removal van can stop, dismantle large furniture before carrying and use a furniture lift through a window if needed. If a large van cannot get close enough, we use a smaller vehicle.

What applies when moving to one of the three Fribourg enclaves in Vaud?
Although the enclaves are surrounded by Vaud territory, they belong to the Canton of Fribourg. You must therefore register with the Fribourg municipality, and vehicle records are also handled via Fribourg. We arrange the parking spot with that municipality's responsible office and plan the route via Vaud roads.

How much does piano transport to the Canton of Fribourg cost?
Piano transport costs from CHF 250.–. The exact amount depends on weight, floors and access, and in the old town or the Prealps possibly a furniture lift. If you are moving at the same time, we take the instrument along on the same date.