2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 
Espace 1606, a medieval immersion with a model, interactive projection and stories of historical figures.
Espace 1606 offers a fascinating immersion into 17th-century Freiburg through a 52 m² model, recreating the 342-hectare city on a 1:250 scale. Architectural details, from Gothic houses to ramparts, have been meticulously reproduced, incorporating 1700 buildings and 17 meters of ramparts, equivalent to 4.2 km of real estate. The tour uses interactive media and a projection that brings six historical figures to life, recreating their daily lives in sound and light.
The model is the fruit of a social integration project carried out by 450 unemployed people between 1996 and 2008, totalling 150,000 hours of work. Since 2018, it has been installed in the Werkhof, a former 16th-century building in Fribourg's Old Town. This unique venue combines heritage and technology to pay tribute to Fribourg's cultural heritage, offering visitors an original experience.
A brief history of the building:
Grosser Werkhof
The Werkhof building was constructed in 1555 by the Weber family, weavers who had emigrated from Alsace, and was used as a weaving mill before being put to various uses over the decades.
It was destroyed by fire and refurbished in 2018 to house an exhibition space, a multi-purpose hall, an after-school reception area and Espace 1606.
Werkhof - Espace 1606 in brief:
- an adventure that began in 1996
- created by 450 unemployed people, over 150,000 hours of work
- Surface area 52 m² representing 342 hectares on a scale of 1:250
- 1700 buildings, churches, towers, bridges,.....
- 17 meters of ramparts (equivalent to 4.2 km at actual size)
Rates
| Adults | 10.- CHF |
| Children 6-16 /AVS/Students | 6.- CHF |
| Fribourg City Card | Free |
Guided tour
| Group adults | 100.- CHF |
| Compulsory schools (Cycles I, II and III) | 20.- CHF |
Guided tour
The tour lasts approximately 50 minutes. Please arrive at the ticket office 5-10 minutes before the tour begins.
The tour is in French, with subtitles in German and English. Audio translators are available on request for German and English.
For reservations during opening hours, please book online.
For visits outside opening hours or special requests, please contact us.
Groups are limited to 40 people.
Access by car and public transport
Bus
From Fribourg/Freiburg SBB station, take bus 4 direction “Auge” in the bus station to the “Fribourg, Karrweg” stop.
Funicular
10-minute walk from funicular arrival point in lower town
People with reduced mobility
People with reduced mobility are welcome; an elevator is available on site.
Book online now!
Opening hours
- 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve)
- 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day)
- 31 December 2025 (New Year's Eve)
- 1 January 2026 (New Year's Day)
From 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2025
MondayClosed
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday13:30 - 17:00
Thursday13:30 - 17:00
Friday13:30 - 17:00
Saturday13:30 - 17:00
Sunday13:30 - 17:00
