“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
- JRR Tolkien
For my Master's degree I found myself being ‘swept off’ to a small town in the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Armed with very little knowledge of my new home and a strong desire to make it feel like more than just a place to live, I set out to explore.
Bulle is a compact and charming municipality located at the foot of the Pre-Alps and surrounded by postcard-worthy landscapes. It is like something out of a story book, offering farmer’s markets, stunning mountains, cafés and a strong sense of community.
Bulle offers a plethora of things to do; not only if you're actively looking for them, but also if you simply allow yourself to become part of the town.
Every Thursday, the town hosts a charming farmers' market. As someone who loves fresh produce and who is keen to explore the culinary offerings of the region, this became my first true "Bulle experience". I was greeted by farmers, bakers, cheesemakers and locals who were eager to share their stories, their produce, and, quite literally, break bread with strangers. I left the market with a full heart and an even fuller stomach!
Hitting the heights
My next adventure took me to the climbing gym. Having never tried rock climbing before, I needed some persuasion from my new Glion friends before agreeing to join them. The gym is one of the largest and best-equipped climbing facilities in Europe, or so I was told by friends who, unlike me, were far from beginners. Several failed attempts and countless laughs later, we ended the evening with burgers, beers, and a sore but satisfied walk home.
As the weeks passed, I found more opportunities to get to know Bulle. Glion organized a walking tour of the town, introducing us to its history, landmarks, restaurants and hidden corners. What began as an orientation activity quickly became another reminder that there was far more to discover here than I had initially imagined.
Let's Go Fitness, which Glion students can access, soon became an unexpected part of my daily routine. I found myself particularly drawn to the smaller Trois-Trèfles location. Its intimate atmosphere made it far less intimidating for a gym newcomer like me and helped me develop an the consistency and discipline that training brings. It also provided a surprisingly effective way to expand my French vocabulary, particularly salutations, the names of body parts and exercise instructions. As someone who had never attended a fitness class before, finding myself in a spinning class conducted entirely in French, with the instructor enthusiastically shouting "Allez, allez!" remains one of my more memorable Swiss experiences.
Embracing the great outdoors
When in Rome, one does as the Romans do. In Switzerland, this means embracing the outdoors. Naturally, I found myself drawn to hikes and mountain trails. Our accommodation is just a five-minute walk from a beautiful forest, which quickly became the backdrop to countless walks, conversations, and moments of reflection with friends. There is something very comforting about being able to step through your door and find yourself surrounded by nature within minutes.
As I became more adventurous, my local friends introduced me to one of the region's gems: Dents de Broc. Looking out across the Gruyère region, surrounded by mountains and fresh alpine air, I understood why hiking is more than just a pastime here, it is a way of life.
What happened next was both slow and sudden, much like falling asleep. The unfamiliar streets became familiar routes. The faces at the market became recognizable. The cafés, trails, gyms, and corners of town that once felt new became part of my daily routine.
Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with this little bubble of ours. Within a matter of months, Bulle had transformed from a place where I happened to live into a place that felt like home.
