The Old-Canton Park (or Saint-Paul Park)
Situated between Rue Saint-Denis and Rue de l'Hôpital, the Parc du Vieux-Comté (commonly referred to as « parc Saint-Paul ») is much more than a simple square: it evokes the memory of the former urban landscape of Bulle. It indeed belonged to a collection of green islands, orchards, and private vegetable gardens that surrounded the historic centre.
Before becoming a public space in 1988, this land was a vast area owned by the Œuvre de Saint-Paul, a religious congregation founded by Canon Joseph Schorderet (1840-1893), who was himself a native of Bulle and the founder of the Catholic and conservative newspaper La Liberté. The establishment of this religious order in Bulle, as early as 1882, responded to a strategy of ideological combat. The city was then the nerve centre of Fribourg radicalism. By installing typographical nuns (the « Paulines ») at the Vieux-Comté estate, Canon Schorderet aimed to break the monopoly of the radical press in the Gruyère. It was mainly about countering the influence of the newspaper La Gruyère, which was founded the same year to defend and promote radical ideas. For a century, the site hosted an active community, managing a printing house, a bookstore, and a sewing workshop for the training of young girls.
In the 1980s, threatened by a road bypass project, the space was saved by the city: Bulle purchased the land from the congregation in 1988 for 820,000 francs and invested 455,000 francs in its development. The park was officially inaugurated on 25 May 1988.
Ten years after its opening, it became the scene of an unusual operation. To carry out work without compacting the soil and suffocating the roots, about ten trees were relocated by helicopter, demonstrating the great care given to this plant heritage.
The park retains species that recall its past as a well-tended ornamental garden, featuring today majestic trees:
· Purple beech: Its imposing silhouette and dark foliage make it the centrepiece of the place.
· Bald cypress: This rare conifer adds a touch of originality, especially in autumn when it turns reddish before shedding its needles.
· American oak: It is appreciated for its vibrant autumn colours.
Having become a meeting place in the city, the park now hosts the cultural activities of the Saint-Paul People collective, perpetuating the social vocation of this haven conducive to meditation.
Information
Musée gruérien
Rue de la Condémine 25
1630 Bulle
La Gruyère Tourisme
Centre commercial Velâdzo (rez inférieur)
Place de la Gare 3
1630 Bulle
