The Basilica of Notre-Dame stands in the upper town of Fribourg and is the main parish church for the upper city, distinct from the cathedral of Saint-Nicolas a short walk away. The current church dates from the 19th century but occupies a site of earlier religious buildings, and the interior has been renovated and decorated with care over the centuries.
The basilica serves an active parish community and is used for major religious celebrations. Its façade on the main square of the upper town gives it a central civic role in the daily life of the city. The interior is quieter and less tourist-oriented than the cathedral, and visiting on a weekday morning often means having it effectively to yourself.