Île d'Ogoz: the solar boat crossing to the ruins on the lake

A medieval island in the middle of the lake

Some outings mark a childhood, and this is one of them. Set in the middle of Lake Gruyère, the Île d'Ogoz carries the remains of a fortified site: two towers raised in the 13th century and the Saint-Théodule chapel, white and squat, restored over time. Before the Rossens dam filled the valley in 1948, all of this stood on a hill above the Sarine. Since then the water has risen and the promontory has become an island. You come ashore by boat, with the very concrete feeling of going somewhere rather than simply looking at a landscape.

What your children will discover

They discover the crossing first, aboard a solar-powered boat with twelve seats: no roaring engine, just the sound of the water. Then the landing on the island, and the discovery of the ruins. Two towers to take in, a chapel to visit, 360-degree views over the lake and the Fribourg Prealps. And an idea children grasp at once when you show it to them: beneath their feet there used to be a hill and paths, now covered by the lake.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

You board, you cross, you land and you take your time. The island is small: you walk around it, sit facing the water, listen to the explanations about the medieval site. The atmosphere is calm and a little out of this world, a long way from the bustle of a theme park. On a few days each year, when the lake level drops below 668 metres, the island becomes a peninsula again and can be reached on foot: regulars watch for the news and come with the family, walking shoes on. The rest of the year, boat, kayak and paddleboard are the only ways to land.

Before you go

• Recommended age: from 3 years old, the island is easy to walk around
• Duration: about 1 hour 30 for the cruise and the visit
• Price: charged, rates to be checked on the official website
• Booking: recommended, via the online form on ogoz.ch
• Pushchair accessibility: a natural island with ruins, poorly suited to pushchairs
• Transport: by car to Le Bry, then a few minutes on foot to the harbour; bus from Bulle or Fribourg
• Best season: from spring to autumn, depending on the crossing schedule

Tips from parents

• Book before you come: the boats only have twelve seats and departures depend on the association's schedule.
• Watch the lake level on the Groupe E website if you hope to reach the island on foot: the crossing is only open below the 668-metre mark, a few days a year.
• Bring good shoes: the ground on the island is natural and uneven around the ruins.
• Bring water and a hat, the island offers little shade.
• Hold the youngest by the hand near the remains and the shore, there are no railings everywhere.

Useful information

• Address: Port du Bry, 1645 Le Bry (municipality of Pont-en-Ogoz); access from the Rossens-Bulle cantonal road, towards Cité d'Ogoz, then down to the car park
• Official website: https://ogoz.ch/
• Opening hours: crossings according to the season's schedule, to be checked on the official website
• Access (transport): bus from Bulle or Fribourg to Le Bry, then a few minutes on foot to the harbour

Why we recommend it

Because it is the most exotic outing on Lake Gruyère: an island, medieval ruins, a chapel, a crossing on a silent boat. You learn the story of a landscape transformed by a dam without ever feeling that you are in a classroom. And because the short format, an hour and a half, suits children who do not yet have the stamina for long visits.

In a nutshell

A medieval island in the middle of Lake Gruyère, with two 13th-century towers and a chapel, reached by solar-powered boat from the Port du Bry.