The SwissBierMuseum tells the story of the Cardinal brewery in its former lagering cellars at the blueFactory site in Fribourg. Here you can discover how beer is made, what life was like at the brewery and its vintage delivery vehicles.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- The history of Cardinal, a Fribourg brewery founded in 1788 and closely tied to the city
- Vintage delivery vehicles, including a 1913 Saurer truck and a Cardinal railway wagon
- Workshops and tastings for groups by reservation, led by sommeliers
Overview
The SwissBierMuseum is housed in the former lagering cellars of the Cardinal brewery, at the blueFactory site, a former industrial complex turned technology hub. Beer production began in 1788 in Fribourg’s lower town. In 1877, Paul-Alcide Blancpain bought the business and launched industrial production.
In 1890, he named a beer Cardinal in honour of Monsignor Gaspard Mermillod, Bishop of Fribourg, who had been made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. It proved so successful that the brewery adopted the name. In 2011, the canton and the city bought the land, ending more than two centuries of production on site. Cardinal beer is still brewed elsewhere.
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What to see and do
The exhibition is laid out with panels in French, German and English. Illustrations, explanations and anecdotes present the stages of beer making, daily life at the brewery and the history of Cardinal, which is intertwined with that of Fribourg.
Outside, a collection of delivery vehicles from different eras includes a Saurer type AC truck built in 1913, with a payload of 3.5 tonnes, as well as a wagon in Cardinal livery. Inside, everyday objects from the brewery are on display, including a bell that summoned employees according to the number of rings.
The museum also covers the Fribourg funicular, built in the late 19th century to carry barrels from the brewery and powered by the city’s wastewater. Groups can book workshops and tastings, including discovery evenings hosted by sommeliers and platters of Fribourg specialities.
Practical information
Getting there : a 10-minute walk from Fribourg SBB station. Paid parking nearby for cars and coaches.
Accessibility : lift at the rear of the building and accessible toilets. The exhibition is accessible, except for the section devoted to the history of Cardinal.
Visits : self-guided at your own pace or guided by reservation.
Audience : individual visitors and groups; workshops are for groups only.
Visiting tips
To delve deeper into Fribourg’s brewing history, book a guided tour and chat with the guides.
Afterwards, take time to explore the blueFactory site. The innovation hub preserves features of its industrial past, such as the former brewery’s listed chimney.
Nearby
- The University of Fribourg Botanical Garden, in Pérolles, features 5,000 plant species across 1.8 hectares.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral in Fribourg is a Flamboyant Gothic building with a 74 m tower and stained-glass windows.
- The Fribourg Natural History Museum, founded in 1823, showcases the natural heritage of Fribourg and the world.
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