Broc
Origin of the name Broc
Broc is recorded from 1115. The name is also written « Broch », and the old German name is « Bruck ». Its origin is not explained.[1]
Founding of Broc
Broc grew up near the crossing of the Sarine, on the road from Bulle to Boltigen. From the 10th century its parish covered the right bank of the Sarine and the Jogne valley, and a Benedictine priory, probably founded in the 11th century, stood near the river crossing. A noble family of Broc, perhaps a branch of the Gruyère, died out in 1340. From the 14th century the village passed to the Montsalvens, and Broc is the seat of the former lordship of Montsalvens. In 1898 the Cailler factory settled here, in the hope of selling the milk production and absorbing the unemployment caused by the crisis in straw plaiting.[1][2]
History of Broc
10th century. Broc is the centre of a large parish covering the right bank of the Sarine and the Jogne valley.[1][2]
1115. First mention of the place.[1]
1228. The Benedictine priory, a dependency of Lutry, is mentioned (or in 1255).[1][2]
1340. The noble family of Broc dies out. The village passes to the Montsalvens from the 14th century.[1]
1368. The Château d'En-Bas is recorded as a fortified house.[2]
1515. Broc receives a communal charter.[1]
1555. The castellany is incorporated into the canton of Fribourg and attached to the bailiwick of Gruyère.[1][2]
1577. The chapter of Saint-Nicolas in Fribourg annexes the priory.[1]
1580. The single-arch stone bridge over the Sarine is rebuilt.[1][2]
1636. The chapel of Notre-Dame des Marches is mentioned. It is rebuilt in 1705 (or in 1704-1705).[1][2]
1745. Common land covers 26.5 % of the territory and 51 % of the usable area.[1]
1871. The parish is reduced to the territory of the municipality.[1]
1877. A new church is built in the village. The old parish church of Saint Othmar is demolished in 1878, except for its porch tower.[1][2]
1884. A miracle at the chapel des Marches brings an influx of pilgrims.[2]
1890. A fire destroys a third of the village's buildings.[3]
1898. The Cailler chocolate factory starts production in October, after moving its offices from Vevey to Broc. It has 76 workers, 1'250 in 1910 and 1'796 in 1930.[1][3]
1912. The Bulle-Broc line opens, with the Broc-Fabrique station.[1][3]
1921. The power station of the Entreprises électriques fribourgeoises goes into service.[3]
1929. Nestlé takes over the chocolate company.[3]
2010. The Maison Cailler opens.[3]
Population of Broc
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1811 | 364 |
| 1850 | 406 |
| 1888 | 438 |
| 1900 | 628 |
| 1920 | 2'163 |
| 1950 | 1'552 |
| 2000 | 2'068 |
| 2020 | 2'605 |
| 2025 | 2'957 |
Historic sites in Broc
Chapel of Notre-Dame-des-Marches. Mentioned in 1636 and dedicated to the Virgin in 1675, it was kept by a hermit from 1642 to 1774 and rebuilt in 1705. After the miracle of 1884, the Almanach catholique de la Suisse française called it the « Grütli fribourgeois » in 1887. Until the early 1970s a great pilgrimage was held there on the second Tuesday of September. It is listed as a cultural property of national importance.[1][2][4]
Cailler factory and Broc-Fabrique. The factory, with the Broc-Fabrique station, is on the inventory of cultural property (category B). The Broc-Fabrique site, with the Cailler workers' housing of 1905, is on the federal inventory of sites of national importance, and the home for women workers on that of cultural property. The Maison Cailler has welcomed visitors there since 2010.[3][4]
Château d'En-Bas. Dating back to the 12th century, recorded as a fortified house in 1368 and rebuilt in the 16th century, it stands near the old bridge of 1580. Its hipped roof dates from 1840. It is on the inventory of cultural property (category B), as is the Château d'En-Haut.[1][2][4]
Former priory and porch tower of Saint Othmar. The Benedictine church of Saint Othmar served as the parish church until 1877. Its 17th-century porch tower survives. The former priory, the porch tower and the present parish church of Saint Othmar are on the inventory of cultural property (category B).[1][2][4]
Montsalvens dam and Electrobroc. The dam, whose southern half lies in the municipality, is listed as a cultural property of national importance. Since 1990 the 1921 power station has housed the Electrobroc information centre, on the inventory of cultural property (category B).[3][4]
Remains in Broc
From the Middle Bronze Age to La Tène. The site was occupied from the Middle Bronze Age, and important La Tène grave goods have been found there.[1]
Church of Saint Blaise. The original church of Broc, dedicated to Saint Blaise, was destroyed by fire.[1]
Leper house of Les Marches. A leper house is recorded at Les Marches from the 13th century.[2]
Montsalvens castle. The medieval ruins of the castle, seat of the lordship of Montsalvens, are on the inventory of cultural property (category B).[1][4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Broc » (Marianne Rolle, version du 15.10.2004)
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Broc-Vieille Cure » (n° 5940)
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Broc-Fabrique » (n° 5939)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : Liste cantonale Canton de FR » (état au 1.1.2026)
- 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 Broc
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