Urbanspa Fribourg

Urbanspa is a private city spa on Rue St-Pierre in Fribourg, founded in 2016 by Laura Gavillet, who continues to run it to this day. The team comprises around 19 people, ten of whom specialise in massage. The saunas and hammams are designed with two tiers of benches — it is hotter at the top than at the bottom, allowing guests to regulate the heat themselves.

The spa prioritises tranquillity and privacy: no more than around 30 guests are present at any one time, and a maximum of four people are admitted every quarter of an hour. A recommended circuit takes 1.5 to 2 hours, leading from the coolest to the hottest area — from the two hammams, via the jacuzzi, to the three saunas. With the addition of a naturist sauna and a cold-water pool, steam-infusion ceremonies have been introduced: ice balls infused with essential oils melt on the stones, and the heat is distributed through choreographed movements with a towel — ten minutes, included in the admission price.

A fouta and flip-flops are included in the admission price; a second towel (CHF 2.–) or a bathrobe (CHF 5.–) can be hired, and swimwear is available to borrow — so you can come without your own swimwear. People speak quietly in the spa; only on Tuesdays, ‘Chat Day’, is normal conversation permitted (except in the jacuzzi). It’s best to book spa entry online; massages (classic Swedish, including for pregnant women) can be booked by telephone or email. The spa can be hired privately for groups of eight or more.