The title for the year 2024, was bestowed on Murten / Morat by readers of Schweizer Illustrierte, l’Illustré, and Domenica Ticinoise — the publications representing each of Switzerland’s linguistic regions.

It was deemed even more beautiful than five other finalists, which are stunning in their own right: Stein am Rhein (SH), Werdenberg (SG), Giornico (TI), Bursins (VD) and Silvaplana (GR).

Of the six finalists, Murten / Morat is the only bilingual village: located in the German-speaking part of canton Fribourg, French is also an official language there.

What’s so special about this village?

You mean, other than its beauty?

Let’s see:

The lake

Murten / Morat lies on the south-eastern shore of the lake of the same name, which is shared by both Fribourg and Vaud.

History

It is one of only a handful of ‘Zähringer’ cities in Switzerland, founded by the German Duke Berthold V of Zähringen in the 13th century.

The 800-year-old community has preserved much of its medieval charm to this day, like the arcades and cobblestone alleys in the Old Town, as well as the round wall enclosing the village, originally designed to keep out invaders and other unwelcome visitors.

Heute mal wieder der Sprachgrenze rund um den Murtensee/Lac de Morat unterwegs gewesen 🙂 Vom wunderschönen, (mehrheitlich) deutschsprachigen #Murten (FR) ging es über den Mont Vully (in der gleichnamigen frz.-sprachigen Gemeinde) ins deutschsprachige Ins (BE) 🙂@Jura3Lacs pic.twitter.com/ito3w23wMd

— Patrick🇨🇭 (@domkept) May 21, 2023

Culture

Every summer, Murten / Morat hosts a classical music festival in the courtyard of its castle.

At the same time, a spectacular light show is taking place all over the community, with various light images reflected on old buildings throughout the village.

People

But for tor Petra Schlüchter, the village’s mayor, its principal charm comes from residents.

“The architecture is beautiful, but it is lifeless,” she said. “It’s the people who make the village come alive.”

Murten / Morat’s new title certainly makes a visit there worthwhile — as well as to all the other stunning villages across the country:

READ ALSO: Switzerland’s ten most beautiful villages you have to visit