Bonjour on Lac Noir Lake! Or if you prefer: Good morning on the Schwarzsee! This is peculiar to this country – one name in several languages.

We were delighted with the picturesque hike near Freiburg (or Fribourg).

The trail starts at Riggisalp station, which we reached by chairlift. I realise that staying down at the Schwarzsee is very tempting. But believe me, it’s just as enjoyable at the top and the views are fantastic. Plus, the trail ends at the lake. So, if you don’t set off on the trail too late, you will definitely have time for a refreshing swim after the four-hour walk.

The whole route is quite varied. You walk through alpine meadows and forest, along mountain slopes, along streams and also on paved roads leading to the numerous mountain inns in this area. Furthermore, between Rippetli and Türmli we came across a rocky obstacle course created by nature.

Add to this a beautiful alpine landscape with jagged mountain peaks that turn from lush green alpine pastures to limestone cliffs and we are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

As you can see from the description, there are no steep climbs on the trail. The path is relatively easy, but it is about 14 km long and on some sections you have to watch your step.

As an interesting aside, according to legend, a long time ago a giant named Gargantua washed his horribly dirty feet in this very lake. As you can guess, the water turned black. Hence the name of the lake – Schwarzsee (Lac Noir). There is no trace left of the giant in the area. The lake is clean and, interestingly enough, the water has healing and relaxing properties, due to its high sulphur content.