The art of wood carving, where nature and craftsmanship converge – Discovering our cultural heritage

The forest bordering the Sarine River has alwaysprovided natural resources for the region. The earliest traces of occupation in Mesolithic times (around10,000 BC – 6,000 BC) show that wood, in particular, played a key role in daily life for the local inhabitants. Oak, walnut, and other types of wood were used as a source of energy and for building houses, tool making and fashioning sacred objects.

In the region, the art of working wood developed over the centuries, especially for ecclesiastical purposes. The Fribourg area became a major centre in the 16th century for sculpted altar pieces. Martin Gramp, Hans Geiler and Hans Gieng were reputed for the high quality of the ornamental and illustrative pieces crafted in their workshops. Today, many of their retables (as they are also known) number among prestigious collections such as at the Louvrein Paris. Often sculpted in woods such as linden, pear or walnut, they were designed to stand above and behind the altar, providing ornamentation and contributing to the church’s solemn, symbolic atmosphere. In time, competition from abroad, notably France, led to the unfortunate disappearance of this art in our region.

Another form of decorative religious art since the Middle Ages are sculpted wood choir stalls – where the monks sit during Offices.Those at Hauterive Abbey date from the late 15th century and are some of the most beautiful examples in western Switzerland. Several sculptors worked together to create alternating representations of the apostles and the prophets. Their carvings testify to the exceptional skill of local artisans and are considered masterpieces of ecclesiastical craftsmanship. At their restoration, completed in 2025, a number of their secrets came to light, revealing more about their originand the techniques used in their making.

Wood carving in the canton of Fribourg was not limited to religious sculpture. Still today, artisans perpetuate the old traditions, producing items such as wooden spoons. At Hauterive, also on the secular side, carved faces can be discovered on the fence posts – generally in oakor acacia – by the Sarine River, along the Abbey boundary. These figures have been hand sculpted by a brother at the monastery with fine attention to detail and a humorous touch, often inspired by meetings with other artists. Yetanother way of reviving our centuries-old crafts of woodworking.

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