Avry
Origin of the name Avry
The village appears in 1162 in the form « De Avriei ». In German it was once called « Avry ob Matran ». The name Avry-sur-Matran, shortened to Avry, became in 2001 that of the municipality created by the merger with Corjolens.[1][2]
Founding of Avry
Avry-sur-Matran always belonged to the parish of Matran. Its territory includes the village of Avry, newer districts and Rosé, which grew along the cantonal road after the station opened in 1880. Two families had their manor houses here, the Buman in the village before 1704, then the Bourgknecht at Courtaney in the 18th century. The village stayed rural until 1960, then took on a semi-urban character with industry and shops. A decree of 16 November 2000 settled the merger with Corjolens, and the new municipality took the name Avry in 2001.[1][2]
History of Avry
1162. The name appears in the form « De Avriei ».[1]
1442. By this date at the latest, Avry belongs to the Old Territories of Fribourg, in the banner of the Neuveville.[1]
Before 1704. The de Buman family owns a manor house in the village.[1]
18th century. The Bourgknecht family builds its manor house at Courtaney.[1]
1798-1848. Avry-sur-Matran belongs to the district of Fribourg.[1]
1879. A private German-language Reformed school opens for the Bernese families who have settled here.[1]
1880. Rosé station opens. The hamlet grows along the cantonal road.[1]
1897. The village builds the chapel of the Holy Trinity.[1]
1939-1945. The large peat bogs are worked during the Second World War.[1]
1965. The insulating glass factory Sofraver S.A. sets up here.[1]
1973. A Migros shopping centre opens.[1]
2000. On 16 November, decree on the merger of the municipalities of Avry-sur-Matran and Corjolens.[2]
2001. The two municipalities form Avry.[1]
2018. A petition with 712 signatures calls for Rosé station to be kept.[3]
2025. The Avry-Matran SBB halt is inaugurated on 11 December. The run-down Rosé station closes at the timetable change.[4]
Population of Avry
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1811 | 189 |
| 1850 | 316 |
| 1900 | 409 |
| 1950 | 411 |
| 1980 | 853 |
| 2000 | 1'215 (Avry-sur-Matran) |
| 2025 | 1'970 (municipality of Avry) |
Historic sites in Avry
Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Village chapel, built in 1897. The village always belonged to the parish of Matran.[1]
De Buman manor house. Residence of the de Buman family, recorded before 1704.[1]
Courtaney. Manor house of the Bourgknecht family, from the 18th century.[1]
Avry-Matran halt. Stop on lines S40 and S41 of the Fribourg RER, inaugurated on 11 December 2025, with two trains per hour in each direction.[4]
Remains in Avry
Rosé station. Opened in 1880, it gave rise to the hamlet of Rosé. Judged run-down and not compliant with the disability equality act, it closed in December 2025 despite a 2018 petition.[1][3][4]
Peat bogs. The large peat bogs of Avry were worked during the Second World War.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Avry-sur-Matran » (Marianne Rolle, version du 03.09.2009)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
- Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, réponse à la pétition « Pour le maintien de la gare ferroviaire de Rosé » (30.04.2019)
- La Télé, « Inauguration de la nouvelle halte CFF d'Avry-Matran » (11.12.2025)
- Service de la statistique du canton de Fribourg (SStat), « Population des communes, de 1900 à 2025 » (T01-02-03), population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Avry
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