Nova Friburgo

Nova Friburgo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈnɔvɐ fɾiˈbuʁɡu], German: Neufreiburg, English: New Fribourg) is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. It is located in the mountainous region, in the Center Mesoregion of the state, at 22º16'55" South latitude and 42º31'52"West longitude, 136 km (85 mi) from its capital Rio de Janeiro. The town is 846 metres (2,776 ft) above sea level and encompasses a total area of 933.4 square kilometres (361.2 sq mi).

Commonly referred to as just "Friburgo", the city had a population of 202,085 people, according to the 2010 Brazilian Census, by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The main economic activities are the undergarment industry, olericulture, goat raising, various industries (textile, clothing, metallurgy) and tourism. It’s also the coldest city of the state.

History

Up to the 19th century, the region of the present Nova Friburgo was inhabited by coroado purí Indians. In 1818, King John VI was interested in improving the relationship with Germany, in order to obtain support against the French empire. He then proposed a planned settlement that would promote the civilization in Brazil. A royal decree authorized the Canton of Fribourg, in Switzerland, to establish a colony of 100 Swiss families in the Morro Queimado Farm, in Cantagalo District, a place with climate and natural characteristics similar to those in their country.