Rossens dam footbridge: 105 metres suspended above the lake

One hundred and five metres of metal above the water

Opened on 18 November 2022, the dam footbridge quickly became a destination in its own right. At 105 metres long and only 80 centimetres wide, it is suspended around ten metres above Lake Gruyère when the lake is at its highest level. It is one of the longest metal footbridges in the canton of Fribourg. Before it was built, walkers linking Pont-la-Ville to the dam had to use five hundred metres of winding road, with no visibility and an unnerving tunnel. The footbridge has removed that stretch: the lakeside trail is now continuous, and far safer.

What your children will discover

They discover the very particular feeling of walking above the water, on a narrow structure that vibrates slightly underfoot. Beneath them, through the deck, they see the lake; ahead, the massive outline of the Rossens dam. It is a small dose of adrenaline for the older ones and a challenge for the more timid, most often crossed hand in hand with a parent. On either side, the forest and the lake shores round off the walk with open viewpoints.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

You park near the dam, you walk, you cross, you come back. The loop takes less than an hour, which makes it the perfect outing for a Sunday afternoon or a complement to a swim at Pont-la-Ville Beach nearby. The atmosphere is that of a walking path used by families, hikers and visitors who have come to see the structure. The contrast between the lightness of the footbridge and the mass of the dam is worth the trip on its own.

Before you go

• Recommended age: from 4 years old, with close supervision on the footbridge
• Duration: less than an hour for the loop from the dam
• Price: free, open access
• Pushchair accessibility: narrow 80-centimetre footbridge, poorly suited to pushchairs
• Transport: by car via the Route du Barrage
• What to bring: closed shoes, a windproof jacket, the lake creates draughts
• Best season: all year, particularly pleasant in spring and autumn

Tips from parents

• Hold young children by the hand for the whole crossing: the footbridge is only 80 centimetres wide.
• Warn children who suffer from vertigo before you set off, the plunging view over the lake is surprising.
• Put proper shoes on everyone, the path leading to the footbridge is natural.
• Combine the walk with Pont-la-Ville Beach to make a proper half-day.
• Avoid very windy days, particularly uncomfortable on a suspended structure.

Useful information

• Address: Route du Barrage, 1649 Pont-la-Ville
• Official website: https://passerelledubarrage.ch/
• Opening hours: open access at all times
• Access (transport): by car from Bulle or Fribourg via the Route du Barrage; public transport connections to be checked on cff.ch

Why we recommend it

Because it offers the best ratio of thrill to walking time in the whole region: ten minutes are enough to cross it, and children still talk about it in the evening. It is also a fine way to show them a useful structure, designed to make a path safe, and to discover the Rossens dam from an unexpected angle.

In a nutshell

A 105-metre metal footbridge suspended above Lake Gruyère, free of charge, to be walked as a loop in less than an hour as a family.