Auboranges
Origin of the name Auboranges
Auboranges appears in 1155 as « Alburengens », then « Arborenges » around 1175, « Auborenges » in 1273 and « Borenges » in 1762. The name is thought to be Burgundian, from an original « *Albwaringos », « at the home of the Albwaringi », although another Germanic origin has also been proposed.[1][2]
Founding of Auboranges
Auboranges is a village on the left bank of the Broye, on the border of the canton of Vaud. In the Middle Ages the abbey of Saint-Maurice gained a foothold here: in 1317 Louis II of Savoy-Vaud ceded it his seigneurial rights over the village in exchange for those it held at Vuadens, while keeping high justice. The abbey kept its property until the end of the Ancien Régime. Remaining Catholic at the Reformation, the village then moved from the parish of Châtillens to that of Promasens. Auboranges is now part of the municipality of Rue (merger of 2025).[1]
History of Auboranges
Neolithic. A menhir is raised on what is now the boundary with Essertes, more than 6'000 years ago.[2][3]
1155. Auboranges is first mentioned, as « Alburengens ».[1][2]
1317. Louis II of Savoy-Vaud exchanges his seigneurial rights over Auboranges for those of the abbey of Saint-Maurice at Vuadens, keeping high justice.[1][2]
Reformation. Remaining Catholic, the inhabitants move from the parish of Châtillens to that of Promasens.[1]
1536-1798. Auboranges belongs to the Fribourg bailiwick of Rue.[1][2]
17th century. Until this period the inhabitants still have to contribute to the salary of the pastor of Châtillens.[1]
1798-1848. The village belongs to the district of Rue.[1]
1990. Farming still provides 15 of the village's 33 jobs, and 51 of the 80 working residents work elsewhere, mainly in the canton of Vaud.[1]
1991. The menhir, three-quarters buried, is identified by archaeologists.[2][3]
2023. On 12 November Auboranges accepts the merger with Rue, Chapelle and Ecublens by 79 %.[4]
2025. Auboranges becomes part of the municipality of Rue.[1]
Population of Auboranges
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 119 |
| 1831 | 124 |
| 1850 | 137 |
| 1900 | 151 |
| 1930 | 193 |
| 1950 | 176 |
| 1970 | 121 |
| 2000 | 237 |
| 2010 | 264 |
| 2020 | 292 |
| 2024 | 280 |
Remains in Auboranges
Pierre du dos à l'âne. This Neolithic menhir, named after its shape, is 5.6 m high and weighs 25 tonnes. It is considered the largest known in Switzerland. Long three-quarters buried and taken for an ordinary stone, it was rediscovered in 1991 thanks to Francis Hildebrand and then moved. Who raised it, and why, is unknown.[2][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Auboranges » (Jean-François Steiert, version du 05.03.2026)
- Commune de Rue, « Histoire »
- Fribourg Région, « Le plus grand menhir de Suisse »
- Frapp, « Rue, Auboranges, Chapelle et Ecublens fusionneront » (12.11.2023)
Other villages near Auboranges
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