Fribourg Funicular

No two funiculars are the same, but there’s something extra special about this green marvel, known as “Funi.” This fella is the last of its kind to be powered by wastewater and has been running since 1899 with no exhaust fumes. But the creaking and clattering of its track can be overpowered by its distinct stinken.

Nearly all funiculars built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries used water, instead of electricity or gasoline, to move cars up and down. An employee at the upper station filled the car’s tank with water, then as soon as that car became heavier than the one at the bottom, the cars were set in motion. When the top car reached the bottom, its tank was emptied, and the process started over. Thanks, gravity.

There are only a few water-powered funiculars left, and Fribourg’s is of particular note—because it connects to the city’s sewer system. That flow of wastewater keeps it moving fluidly, albeit with the aroma of Eau de Funi cologne in the air.

Entirely renovated in 2014, it’s still used by travelers, who enjoy the novelty of the two-minute ride, though many learn that it’s all Funi games until you inhale deeply.

📖 Full Story Page 109