The bilingual village of Murten / Morat, Canton Fribourg has been named the prettiest in Switzerland for 2024, according to the annual awards from Schweizer Illustrierte, l'Illustré, and Domenica Ticinoise. While the country is full of stunning little villages, Murten rose above the rest because of its vibrant history, architecture and location.

Murten / Morat: The most beautiful village in Switzerland

To take the title, Murten beat out the likes of Stein am Rhein (Schaffhausen), Giornico (Ticino), Bursins (Vaud), Silvaplana (Graubünden) and Wedenberg (St. Gallen) - the latter being famous for claiming it is the smallest city in the world. The final shortlist was created by six experts, after which readers of the three magazines voted on their favourite.

Murten was given high praise for its picturesque old town, walls and that it was the only bilingual village on the list. Writing in a statement, Murten Mayor Petra Schlüchter said that they were “delighted” with the award, adding that for her “the beauty and uniqueness of Murten is not only due to its location and architecture but also to the many people who are committed to events or life in Murten in general.”

This isn’t the first time that Murten has received high praise. In 2022, it was one of two Swiss villages that were considered the best for tourism by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. It's easy to see why:

Video: Switzerland is Life / YouTube

History of Murten / Morat

Situated on the banks of Lake Murten, Murten / Morat first developed as a fortified town in the 6th century. It was actually given city status by the Zähringen family in the 12th century, though its population today is now far too small for it to retain the title officially. In 1416, a fire forced the local inhabitants to rebuild the whole town and its walls in stone. These buildings are the ones visitors enjoy today.

The town is best known for the Battle of Murten on June 22, 1476, when a Swiss force surprised and defeated a Burgundian army under Charles the Bold. Up to 10.000 Burgundian soldiers were killed in the battle, compared to just 410 Swiss losses. 

Today, the ramparts, towers, castle and charming cobblestone streets beckon explorers. Alongside the history, the town hosts an annual music festival, which includes a light show that illuminates all of the famous buildings in the town.