The town of Bulle initially developed around its church which was, in 9th century, an ecclesiastical center of importance. The construction of the castle began certainly under the episcopate from Boniface (1231-1239). After the annexation of Bulle by the town of Freiburg, the castle became, since 1537, residence of the bailiffs'. Since 1848, it is the seat of the Prefecture of the Gruyère and receives the Court, the state police and the prisons.
Forming a quadrilateral of 41 x 44 meters, it includes main buildings on three sides. Its construction was carried out according to plans' of the Savoyard Castles, with small towers in the 4 corners.
The keep, enormous and separated by a small court, 33 meters is high and broad of 2.16m at its base. Its entry of origin is located at 9.7m ground. Less imposing, the turns of the three other angles are little towers placed in overhang in top of the walls.
This historical fortress has escaped with the fire which destroyed the city in 1805.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.