Billens
Origin of the name Billens
Billens appears in 1155 as « Bitlens ». The meaning of the name is not established.[1]
Founding of Billens
The village gave its name to a noble family, vassals of the bishop of Lausanne and then of Savoy, who held it from the 12th to the 15th century. Their lordship covered the territory of the municipality and, until 1239, the hill of Romont, as well as estates between the Jorat and Lake Geneva. Billens is also the centre of an old parish that includes Hennens. A farming village on the cantonal road between Romont and Lucens, it has become a suburb of Romont. Billens is today part of the municipality of Billens-Hennens (merger of 1998).[1][2]
History of Billens
1155. Billens is mentioned for the first time, as « Bitlens ».[1]
1228. The parish of Billens is recorded. It also includes Hennens.[1]
1239. Anselme of Billens cedes his rights over the hill of Romont to the house of Savoy and gives up the castle.[1][2]
1362. On 30 August the knight Aymon of Billens sells the vineyards of Riex to the Bourgeoisie of Fribourg, which still owns them.[2]
1365. Through marriage the lordship passes to the county of Gruyère.[1]
1402. After a time as part of the lordship of Palézieux, the lordship is sold to Richard d'Illens. It then changes hands several times until 1648.[1]
1536. Billens joins the Fribourg bailiwick of Romont.[1]
1659. The church of Saint-Maurice is enlarged.[1]
After 1718. The fortified house of the lords of Billens, known since the 15th century, is destroyed.[1]
1798. The Gottrau lordship ends and Billens passes to the Romont district.[1]
1799. Tobie de Gottrau, born in 1738, an officer in French service and one of the last lords of Billens, is imprisoned at Chillon. He dies ruined early in 1825.[2]
1822. On 19 April the estate and the « castle » are sold for 1'550 francs to Joseph Charrière, a merchant from Cerniat.[2]
1826-1831. The right of presentation passes to the parish in 1826, and the church is then rebuilt from 1827 to 1831.[1]
1830. On 25 September Joseph Charrière resells the property for 36'500 francs to Charles de Mazenod, provost and vicar general of Marseille who had fled the revolution of 1830, with the approval of the Council of State.[2]
1848. Billens joins the Glâne district.[1]
1864. The castle is bequeathed to the State of Fribourg on 26 March and becomes the hospice of the Glâne district.[1][2]
1937. The hospice is turned into a hospital.[1]
1998. Billens merges with Hennens, under a decree of the Grand Council of 20 May 1997, to form Billens-Hennens.[1][3]
Population of Billens
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 157 |
| 1880 | 214 |
| 1941 | 424 |
| 1980 | 399 |
| 1990 | 410 |
Historic sites in Billens
Church of Saint-Maurice. Enlarged in 1659, it was rebuilt from 1827 to 1831.[1]
Billens castle. The new castle was built outside the village. Bequeathed to the State in 1864, it housed the hospice of the Glâne district, which became a hospital in 1937.[1][2]
Remains in Billens
Fortified house of the lords. The fortified house of the Billens family, mentioned from the 15th century, was destroyed after 1718.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Billens » (Marianne Rolle, version du 30.10.2002)
- Commune de Billens-Hennens, « Un peu d'histoire »
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
Other villages near Billens
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