Murten

Murten kept its town wall, which is rarer than it sounds, and you can climb the steps and walk a long stretch of the rampart under its wooden roof, looking down into gardens and over the roofs to the lake. Below, the main street runs between arcades from the clock gate to the castle, wide enough for markets and lined with shuttered facades. The castle at the western end sits above the water and is used for offices, so only its courtyard and terrace are open. The town stands on the language boundary, and you will hear French and German in equal measure in the same shop.

What you actually see

• The rampart walk - the covered wall walk with views over the roofs and the lake.
• The arcaded main street - one long street of vaulted arcades between the gate and the castle.
• The clock gate - the tower gate with its painted face at the eastern end of town.
• The lakeside - the shore below the walls, with swimming areas and boats in summer.

When to go

May to September for the lake and the boat connections along the linked lakes; the shore below town is a swimming spot in summer. Autumn is quieter and suits the wall walk. The town holds a large lantern-lit street event in late autumn that fills the centre and books out accommodation well in advance.

Honest expectations

The old town is one street and a wall, so an hour covers it unless you add the lake. The rampart walk is uneven underfoot with steep steps and no handrail in places. Restaurant prices on the main street reflect the setting rather than the cooking, and parking outside the walls fills early on summer weekends.

Nearby

The Roman remains at Avenches are a short drive west, and Fribourg's old town lies to the south.