Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Origin of the name Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
In 1388 the village is referred to as « Chastel propre Montservens ». This name, which links the village to Montsalvens, has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
The village, split into two parts, depended on the house of Gruyère, through the castellany of Montsalvens, and on the lords of Corbières. It was part of the barony of Montsalvens, whose fortified borough lay below. The municipality brings together three hamlets: Châtel-Dessous, at 900 m, with the chapel, Châtel-Dessus and Les Planets, at 950 m. In church matters it depended on Broc until 1850.[1][2]
History of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
1388. Rudolf IV of Gruyère frees the inhabitants from mortmain.[1]
1555-1798. The municipality depends in turn on the Fribourg bailiwicks of Gruyère, Corbières and Bellegarde.[1]
1699-1701. The chapel of Saints Nicholas and Magnus is built at Châtel-Dessous and inaugurated in 1701.[1][2]
1746. The chapel bell is cast, given by the Savary family.[2]
1795. A house with a façade decorated with arcades and lozenges is built next to the chapel.[2]
1798-1848. Châtel-sur-Montsalvens belongs to the district of Gruyères (1798-1803), the arrondissement of Corbières (1803-1815), then the prefecture of Gruyères (1815-1848).[1]
1850. The village leaves the parish of Broc for that of Crésuz.[1][2]
1921. The Montsalvens dam and lake, at the bottom of the Jogne valley, begin to feed the Broc power station. The hamlet gains no growth from it.[1][2]
1960. Tourism linked to Charmey develops, and second homes multiply.[1]
1980s. The hamlet has fewer than 100 inhabitants, before the tourist and economic growth of the region.[2]
Population of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1811 | 71 |
| 1850 | 113 |
| 1870 | 172 |
| 1900 | 139 |
| 1920 | 279 |
| 1950 | 132 |
| 1970 | 93 |
| 2000 | 205 |
| 2025 | 354 |
Historic sites in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Chapel of Saints Nicholas and Magnus. Built at Châtel-Dessous in 1699-1701, it follows the model of the 17th-century rural chapels of the Gruyère, like the old chapel of Crésuz. Its bell of 1746 was given by the Savary family.[1][2]
Houses of Châtel-Dessous. Near the chapel stand a large double house from the late 18th century, typical of the Charmey model, and a dwelling of 1795 whose façade is decorated with arcades and lozenges.[2]
Montsalvens dam. The northern half of the dam lies in the municipality, the southern half in Broc. The structure is listed as a cultural property of national importance.[3]
Remains in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Borough of Montsalvens. The fortified borough of the barony of Montsalvens lay below the hamlet. Montsalvens castle, whose ruins survive, is in the territory of Broc.[2][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Châtel-sur-Montsalvens » (Patrice Borcard, version du 14.07.2005)
- Signalétique patrimoniale de la Jogne, « Hameau et chapelle de Châtel-sur-Montsalvens »
- 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
Other villages near Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
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