FRDEITEN
Villages / Fribourg / Glâne district / Châtonnaye

Châtonnaye

Canton of Fribourg · District: Glâne · 852 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Châtonnaye

The village appears in 1228 as « Chastenaie » and in 1402 as « Chastonaye ». The meaning of the name remains obscure.[1]

Founding of Châtonnaye

Châtonnaye lies at 693 m in the far west of the canton, on the road from Fribourg to Romont and on the border with the Vaud villages of Sédeilles and Trey. A Hallstatt period burial mound and Roman roof tiles show that the site was frequented long before the first written records. From the 13th to the 15th century the village was the seat of a lordship and of a family of minor knightly nobility bearing its name, linked to the House of Savoy. The municipal coat of arms, with its cockerel, uses a variant of theirs. Long part of the parish of Torny-Pittet, Châtonnaye has had its own parish since 1794. Its inhabitants are nicknamed the « chats huants ».[1][2][3]

History of Châtonnaye

c. 550-450 BC. A burial mound is raised on the edge of the Pralet wood.[1]

Roman period. Roof tiles from this period have been found within the municipality.[1]

1228. The village is recorded as « Chastenaie ».[1]

1248. Jacques is the first known member of the Châtonnaye family, which has its seat in the village.[2]

1308. Another Jacques de Châtonnaye is castellan of Romont.[2]

1327. Aymon, castellan of Villarzel, and Jacques de Châtonnaye fight alongside William II of Montagny in his private war against the bishop of Lausanne.[2]

c. 1390. Through his marriage to Marguerite de Fernay, Rodolphe de Châtonnaye acquires the lordship of Vuissens.[2]

1433. The male line dies out with Jacques, son of Rodolphe, lord of Vuissens and castellan of Romont.[2][3]

1680. A new chapel replaces the old one, which had fallen into ruin.[4]

1700. The church of Sainte-Anne is consecrated.[1]

Until 1798. Châtonnaye belongs to the bailiwick of Romont.[1]

1794. The village separates from Torny-Pittet and becomes a parish.[1][4]

1880. The Pralet burial mound is discovered. Its grave goods include a large gold ring, perhaps a torc.[1]

1884 (or 1874). The present church, consecrated by Bishop Marilley, replaces that of 1700.[1][4]

1940. A shortwave radio receiving station is set up at Châtonnaye.[1]

1949. The interior of the church is restored.[1][4]

2010. Châtonnaye launches a merger study with La Folliaz, Massonnens, Torny, Villaz-Saint-Pierre and Villorsonnens.[5]

2014. In the consultative vote of 28 September, most voters in Châtonnaye reject the project.[5]

2015. On 14 June a smaller merger with La Folliaz, Torny and Villaz-Saint-Pierre fails at the ballot box because Torny votes no.[5]

Population of Châtonnaye

Sources and references: [1][3][7]

Population of Châtonnaye
1811246
1850371
1870381
1900394
1950453
1980342
2000539 (or 552)
2010734
2020870
2025852

Historic sites in Châtonnaye

Church of Sainte-Anne. The 300-seat church was built at the end of the 19th century. Its stained glass and fresco are the work of the painter Yoki.[1][4]

Radio station. Set up in 1940 for shortwave reception, in 2004 it was used by the Federal Office of Communications to locate transmitters, interference and pirate broadcasts, by triangulation with the Bernex and Marchairuz stations.[1][6]

Coat of arms. The shield, divided diagonally in silver and black, bears a russet cockerel with a red comb and wattles, a variant of the arms of the feudal house of Châtonnaye.[3]

Remains in Châtonnaye

Pralet burial mound. Raised around 550-450 BC on the edge of the Pralet wood and discovered in 1880, it yielded a large gold ring, perhaps a torc, counted among the most important Hallstatt period finds.[1]

Roman roof tiles. Roman roof tiles have been found at Châtonnaye.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Châtonnaye » (Evelyne Maradan, version du 29.12.2003)
  2. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Châtonnaye, de » (Ernst Tremp, version du 30.09.2009)
  3. Commune de Châtonnaye, « Présentation »
  4. Unité pastorale de la Glâne, « Église de Châtonnaye »
  5. Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2018-DIAF-25 du 25 mars 2019 accompagnant le projet de décret relatif à la fusion des communes de La Folliaz et Villaz-Saint-Pierre
  6. HB9AFO, « Visite de la station OFCOM de Châtonnaye » (12 novembre 2004)
  7. 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 Châtonnaye

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change