With its gastronomy, Fribourg joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2023 – one of the first two municipalities in Switzerland to enter this prestigious network and the country’s first Creative City of Gastronomy.
This international label represents a welcome added value for the city, as culinary tradition, creativity and innovation are now recognised as strategic drivers of sustainable urban development.
Membership in this international network implies a long-term commitment and the submission of four-year action plans. The first of these, developed hand in hand with the City’s partners, is built around the guiding thread of innovation in gastronomy. It is structured around three pillars:
- Research: positioning and strengthening the city and canton as a hub for innovation and research in the agri-food sector;
- Education: fostering awareness among younger generations, as well as integration and professional reintegration through the lens of gastronomy;
- Events: culture, economy, social affairs, sport – embedding gastronomy as an urban marketing pillar for the City and leveraging it as a driver of creativity.
