Take the rare opportunity to walk across the mysteriously exposed lake bed of Lac de La Gruyère and explore the enchanting Ile d'Ogoz! When the water recedes, the lake reveals its well-kept secret - an island full of history and mysticism, only accessible on foot for a short time.
In the gentle light of spring, the otherwise submerged Ile d'Ogoz is transformed into a picturesque peninsula. A once hidden world is revealed: ruins from the 13th century, venerable towers and a chapel that tell of times gone by. The brave climb up one of the towers and let their gaze wander over the vast blue of Lac de La Gruyère, while the snow-covered foothills of the Alps sparkle in the distance.
The hike to the island is easy and accessible to everyone - a gentle one-hour walk that takes you back in time. But be careful: the island is a fragile jewel. Respect its nature, take your rubbish with you and leave the stones where they are so that this wonder can be preserved for a long time.
This special natural spectacle occurs every year when the Lac de La Gruyère, an artificial lake created in 1948, is drained to make room for the winter meltwater. Then the Ile d'Ogoz rises from the depths like a lost legend - an ephemeral paradise that enchants young and old alike.
Of Fords, Towers and a Sunken World
In times long past, Pont was a crucial passage, a ford that provided access to the Roman trade routes along the Saane. Guards kept watch, probably exactly where the medieval castle was later built. The domain only received its name in the 12th century - at a time when the ford gave way to old bridges.
The first of these bridges spanned the river below Vieux-Châtel, above the current ruins. A second followed, but both were at the mercy of the wild Saane, which showed no mercy with its raging floods. Finally, a third was built, more durable than its predecessors: built in 1544, carved from tuff, it has stood the test of time and today rests quietly and untouched beneath the waters of Lac de La Gruyère - the bridge of Thusy, a hidden relic of past centuries.
The Heritage of Pont-en-Ogoz
The medieval Pont-en-Ogoz stood on a gentle peninsula, once surrounded by the river. Before 1231, a market town grew here, protected by the steep cliffs, guarded by a fortress that defended access to the town. The ruins of the Ile d'Ogoz, visible today, tell of this once flourishing settlement.
The two twin towers that stand proudly on the island were once part of two castles, residences of rival rulers. Each tower housed living quarters, each courtyard was surrounded by walls and outbuildings. The small chapel, built in silent devotion, offered comfort to the residents in uncertain times. But fate was not kind to the place - at the beginning of the 15th century the market town was abandoned, and Freiburg even allowed the ashlars to be used for other buildings. Little by little, Ogoz disappeared - until nature itself finally covered it up.
The Birth of an Island
In the chaos of the war years in 1948, the canton of Fribourg decided to build the Rossens dam. The meandering land that once connected Ogoz to the shore was swallowed by the rising waters. What was once a peninsula became an island.
Today, the old bridge lies dormant in the depths, the towers rise defiantly above the water, and the island of Ogoz is a silent witness to the time when knights let their gaze wander from the battlements and the Saane still meandered freely through the valley.
Access
As soon as the water level falls below 668 metres, you can reach the Ile d'Ogoz on dry feet.
