Plaffeien: Hiking, Cycling and the Cattle Drive
Accommodation in Plaffeien
Plaffeien is located in the Sense Oberland and is a municipality in the Sense District of the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. When planning a stay, hikes along the Sense, local cycling options, the parish church and the cattle drive in September offer different points of interest. You can tailor your stay to the landscape, activity, history or time of year.
Hiking along the Sense
The hiking trail along the Sense leads from the Guggersbach Bridge to Plaffeien through an intact floodplain habitat. You can observe stones, plants and insects on the gravel and sandbanks. The route is 4 km long and takes about an hour. It is family-friendly and fairly flat, but not suitable for strollers.
The Fribourg Pre-Alps Trail passes through Plaffeien in the direction of the Sense. For the Plaffeien–Schwarzsee stage, you can shorten the hike by taking a bus back from regular stops along the route. Check the current timetable before travelling. The trail along the Sense is described by its length and approximate walking time, while the stage to Schwarzsee can be shortened by bus.
Cycling in Plaffeien
The Guggershörnli gravel loop starts and ends in Plaffeien. The BSO Pump Track is located in the centre. It has a paved riding surface and a surrounding bike trail on natural terrain with various obstacles. The pump track is suitable for children and adults, as well as beginners and professionals.
The BSO course is a 3 km mountain bike trail with artificial obstacles such as boulders, steps, banked turns and wooden bridges. It is well signposted from Plaffeien parish church. Alongside the gravel loop, this provides different cycling options: a pump track and a mountain bike trail with named obstacles.
Parish church and local history
Plaffeien parish church is the largest Neo-Romanesque church in the canton of Fribourg. The fire of 1906, which almost completely destroyed the village, preceded the rebuilding of the church; it was inaugurated four years later. Plaffeien was first mentioned in a document in 1148. Since its foundation, RĂĽeggisberg Abbey had a priory in the Plaffeien area.
Cattle drive in September
The Plaffeien cattle drive takes place every year in September in the village centre. After spending four months summering in the mountains, the colourfully decorated herds return to the lowlands; up to 1,000 animals arrive over the course of the day. Individual dates may vary, so it is worth checking the exact date before travelling in September.
Plaffeien in Gantrisch Nature Park
Plaffeien is one of the 28 municipalities in Gantrisch Nature Park. Its projects focus on enhancing and protecting nature, promoting social values and supporting the regional economy. In the wider region, the park highlights the natural landscapes of Schwarzsee, the Sense gorges and the Gurnigel area, as well as a variety of sporting opportunities. Cultural destinations include the RĂĽeggisberg monastery ruins and the Vreneli Museum in Guggisberg.
Discover more destinations: Schwarzsee-Bad, Schmitten, Plasselb, Oberschrot, St. Ursen, WĂĽnnewil-Flamatt, Tafers, Ueberstorf.
Return to the main travel overview: Sense.
