Nova Friburgo
A Swiss colony of 1820 in the Rio state highlands, now a lingerie manufacturing town with mountain walking around it.
Updated 19 October 2026
In 1818 the Portuguese crown recruited settlers from the Swiss canton of Fribourg, and around two hundred and sixty families who survived the crossing founded the town in 1820 and named it after the canton they had left. German settlers followed. The Swiss inheritance is now thin - a square, some names, a few festivals - and the town's actual economy is lingerie - a 2024 federal law names it Brazil's national capital of intimate apparel - with factory outlets that are the main reason many Brazilians come. What holds up is the setting: mountains to nearly two thousand metres, cool air, a cable car to Morro da Cruz, and walking in the Tres Picos state park nearby. The 2011 landslides in this region killed over nine hundred people.
History
Coroado Purí people lived in the region until the 19th century, and in May 1818 King John VI authorised the Swiss canton of Fribourg to found a colony of 100 families on the Morro Queimado farm, chosen for a climate like their own; between 1819 and 1820 265 Swiss families, 1,458 people, settled here and named the place after their homeland. Eighty German families arrived on 3 and 4 May 1824, Italians, Portuguese and a few Syrians followed, the Leopoldina Railroad came in 1872 to carry the coffee of Cantagalo, the town became a city on 8 January 1890, and from 1910 German industrialists built up its textile industry (Wikipedia, Nova Friburgo).
Highlights
- A Swiss foundation of 1820 - named after Fribourg, home canton of most of the settlers.
- A lingerie industry - a 2024 federal law names the town Brazil's national capital of intimate apparel; factory outlets.
- A cable car to Morro da Cruz - the view over the town and the range.
- Tres Picos walking - the state park peaks nearby.
When to go
April to September. Two days.
Practical notes
The Swiss identity is largely nominal now and visitors expecting an Alpine town will be disappointed. The road up from Rio is winding and slow. The 2011 disaster left the whole region cautious about heavy rain, and roads close when it comes. Winter nights are cold.
Nearby
Teresopolis is west; Visconde de Maua is far to the south-west.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q468563, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Nova Friburgo
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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