Belluard Bollwerk International is a festival of contemporary arts in Fribourg. It takes place every summer on an outdoor stage in a medieval fortress and in various places in the city. The festival offers theatre, dance, performances, concerts and parties. A surprising and internationally renowned program has been its trademark since 1983. The Fribourg artistic scene connects with the creativity of the whole world. Various workshops also encourage active participation and encounters with artists.

As a genuine place of exchange, the Belluard Festival brings together a varied and multilingual crowd in a friendly atmosphere. All its events are accessible at the single rate of CHF 15. For those in a precarious situation, suspended tickets are offered by third parties and made available at the ticket office. In the center of the festival, an ephemeral restaurant and the Bellu'bar are the setting for the nine festive summer evenings.

The Main Venue

The medieval Bastion is the central venue of Belluard Festival. It is laid out for stage projects, but beyond that, it offers numerous possibilities for specific artistic interventions.

The large bulwark was built around 1490. The former artillery fortification is (together with the Munot in Schaffhausen built after 1563) the only existing building of it’s kind in Switzerland. In Fribourg it is the last of three fortresses on the northern and western side of the city. It consists of a tower and the actual bastion, built shortly before 1500 from large cubes of sandstone with great technical skill. In the 17th century the loop-holes were adapted to the new systems of artillery. The building in the form of a U is approximately 35m wide. The part which forms a half-circle consists of wooden galleries on three floors.