In the Senseoberland region is the little village of Schwarzsee with a lake of the same name at 1050 m, surrounded by impressive limestone mountains such as the Kaiseregg, Spitzfluh and Schwyberg. This holiday destination with its events specially for children, footpaths suitable for buggies, playgrounds, picnic areas and themed walks has been awarded the “Families welcome” quality mark.

Summer

A chair-lift gives access to the Riggisalp/Kaiseregg area (2185 m), starting point for lots of varied alpine tours. For hikers, there is a 200 km long network of paths. Round the lake is a popular 4 km long walk.

You will have opportunities for bathing, rowing, fishing in the lake and the little Sense river and also mini-golf during your stay. For mountain bikers, there are 180 km of marked routes. On the mountain bike course at Plaffeien, with its 14 artificial obstacles, the bold can put their sense of balance to the test. One rip-roaring adventure is the downhill ride by scooter from the Riggisalp. You will find old traditions kept alive in the typical mountain huts, serving local specialities. In the primeval karst landscape of the Brecca Gorge, walkers experience the full force of nature and may even spot marmots, chamois or a circling golden eagle. Since 1996, this natural paradise has been included in the Swiss Inventory of Landscape and Natural Monuments of national importance (BLN). The scenery can be experienced at close quarters on a two-day hiking tour, staying the night in mountain huts.

Winter

In the family-friendly skiing area of Schwarzsee/Kaiseregg, with a chair-lift, several T-bars and a Swiss ski school, there is fun to be had by skiers, carvers and snowboarders on 22 km of pistes. There are marked snow-shoe trails awaiting the friends of the “silent winter sport”. As soon as the ice is thick enough, the frozen Schwarzsee is open to skaters, walkers and cross-country skiers.

• Schwarzsee – depending on the light, this mountain lake may be either turquoise-blue or shimmering black, and is surrounded by steep limestone mountains. In winter it freezes over and can be walked on.
• Primeval landscape of the Brecca Gorge – one of the wildest and most beautiful of the Swiss alpine valleys formed by glaciers.
• Ice palaces at Lichtena, Schwarzsee – between Christmas and March thousands of visitors come to wonder at artistic ice palaces, towers and caves.
• “Ds Vreneli ab em Guggisbärg” walk – starting from the Schwarzsee, the two-day walk takes you to Guggisberg in the neighbouring region of Gantrisch to the sites featuring in the saga of Vreneli and the “Hansjoggeli änet em Bärg”.
• Sensler Museum in Tafers – history and artefacts of the Fribourg Sense district, along with contemporary works.
• Town of Freiburg (Fribourg) – one of the less well-known towns in Switzerland, with a very fine mediaeval Old Town and cathedral, only 26 km away from Schwarzsee.

• Schwing- und Älplerfest – typical Swiss wrestling in a sawmill against the backdrop of the Kaiseregg (June).
• Country Night on the Schwarzsee – Country sounds in the Fribourg foothills (August).
• Balisa Alpine Cheese Festival – alpine hut festival with yodelling and, of course, local cheese delicacies (September).

Public Transport: By rail to Freiburg, and then by public bus service to the Schwarzsee (bus timetable www.tpf.ch).