History of Nova Friburgo

"The Brazilian Switzerland" In 1818, D. João VI, King of Portugal and Brazil, authorized the immigration of 100 Swiss families from the Fribourg Canton to this area. Almost 2,000 Swiss settlers arrived then, escaping from hunger, plagues, and the Napoleonic wars in Europe. Thus started the first official non-Portuguese colony in Brazil. In 1824, the first German immigrants to this country arrived here, and later on, other immigrants were also attracted to the area: Italian, Austrian, Hungarian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Lebanese.

Agricultural development, together with a mild temperature and a healthy climate (annual temperature average of 68° F), ideal for tourism, were conducive to the city progress. Today, N. Friburgo has the second largest number of hotels in the State of Rio de Janeiro, only being surpassed by the capital itself, the city of Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, the region is the major supplier of fruits and vegetables to the State of Rio de Janeiro. Besides horticulture, the following productions are also important for the economy of the region: flowers, goat milk and cheese, honey, swines, escargots, and trouts.
There are also many factories established in the region, such as Filó (lingerie - representative of Triumph International), Frialp (cheeses and milk products), and the latest, the Chocolateria Henri Nestlé (chocolates and sweets). In addition, the city became known as "The Capital of Lingerie", due to its almost 3,000 small factories of lingerie, which together respond for the greatest demand of lycra fabric in the country.

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