When planning a trip to Schwarzsee-Bad, you can choose from a range of activities: historic bathing culture, lakeside trails and excursions into the mountain landscape. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether your stay will focus more on lakeside activities, a walk or longer hikes. The activities vary considerably in terms of season and time required.
Bathing culture and landscape
The site of today’s Hotel Bad was once occupied by the bathhouse built in 1784. The sulphurous water of Lake Schwarzsee was also used for therapeutic bathing around 200 years ago. These historical connections add a glimpse of the area’s former bathing culture to today’s trails and bathing facilities.
Lake Schwarzsee lies in the Fribourg Pre-Alps at 1,045 m above sea level. The Breccaschlund is a primeval landscape shaped by glaciers over 10,000 years ago. It is also a habitat for many alpine flowers and animals. Lake Schwarzsee and the Breccaschlund therefore offer a range of distinct landscape experiences.
Lakeside trails and water activities
At Gypsera, there is a bathing beach with a semicircular wooden jetty extending over the water. Another beach, Staldenmotta, is a ten-minute walk from the beach at Gypsera. Seasonal conditions may apply to the bathing beaches; check the latest information before your visit. You can rent stand-up paddleboards on Lake Schwarzsee by the hour or by the day. Availability may vary by season. For pedal boats, contact the reception at the Hostellerie am Schwarzsee; availability may also vary by season.
The Schwarzsee Kneipp Trail offers seven Kneipp experiences around the lake. It is 4 km long, and pure walking time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The trail is available from spring to autumn. The stated walking time is for the time spent walking; allow extra time for the experiences and breaks.
The Schwarzsee lakeside walk starts at the Gypsera bus stop in Schwarzsee. One of its features is the «Schwarzsee Dragon», made of iron and sheet metal and jutting out from a 20 m-high rock. In summer, the walk is also called the Witches’ Trail; some interactive stations draw on local legends and fairy tales. By contrast, the Kneipp Trail focuses on seven Kneipp experiences, while the summer walk centres on storytelling.
An easy 5.05 km themed trail connects Schwarzsee, Gypsera, the Schwarzsee waterfall and Schwarzsee Bad. The wildlife observation and viewing tower is marked as a viewpoint along the trail; the waterfall is at an altitude of 1,129 m. At 5.05 km, this themed trail is slightly longer than the 4 km Kneipp Trail and leads to different named destinations.
Tours and seasonal activities
The tours can be compared directly in terms of time and distance: the short «Schwarzsee – Brecca Primeval Landscape» tour is easy, 10 km long and takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes. The longer tour into the Breccaschlund is almost 15 km and takes a little over four hours. This lets you decide in advance between a shorter tour and a longer time commitment.
The detachable two-seater chairlift operated by Kaisereggbahnen takes visitors to the Riggisalp; it runs seasonally. The area is a starting point for the high-altitude trail, mountain hikes and bike tours. If you plan to take the mountain lift, check its current operating hours.
In winter, the Swiss Snow Kids Village offers fun children’s lessons with the children’s friend SNOWLI. The Schwarzsee toboggan run offers around 1,000 m of sledging fun for all ages; the ascent is by ski lift. Check operating hours before your visit and before adding this activity to your itinerary.
Getting there
Schwarzsee is easy to reach by car and public transport. If you are travelling by public transport, check the current timetable before setting off.
For the broader travel overview: Plaffeien.
