Cordast
Origin of the name Cordast
The village appears in 1294 in the French form « Corbath ». It then appears in the German form « Curbdast » in 1342, as « Gurdast » in 1363 and as « Curdast » in 1414. In French Cordast is called La Corbaz. The name has not been explained.[1][2]
Founding of Cordast
Cordast (La Corbaz) is a street village on a plateau at just over 600 m, north of Fribourg. To the west and south it borders the French-speaking municipalities of Courtaman, Courtepin and Barberêche. In the 14th century it belonged to the counts of Thierstein, while the tithes were held by Fribourg families. Catholics belonged to the parish of Gurmels, Protestants to that of Murten until 1874. Cordast is now part of the municipality of Gurmels (merger of 2005).[1][2]
History of Cordast
1294. First mention, as « Corbath ».[1][2]
1363. The village, then called « Gurdast », belongs to the counts of Thierstein, and Pierre de Pont holds the tithes.[1][2]
15th century. The tithes are divided between Jakob von Englisberg, Jean Mossu and Jean Floret.[1]
1442. Fribourg buys the territory of the parish of Gurmels from the Thierstein family. Until 1798 Cordast belongs to the Old Territories, in the Hospital banner.[1][2]
1614. A private benefactor has a chapel built in honour of St Gerinus.[1][3]
1798-1830. After four years in the district of Murten, Cordast returns to the district of Fribourg in 1803.[1][2]
1831. Like the other localities of the parish of Gurmels, Cordast becomes an autonomous municipality. The same year a fire destroys much of its buildings.[2]
1848. When the districts are redrawn, the Sarine becomes the boundary between the Lake and Sense districts, and Cordast is assigned to the Lake district against its will.[1][2]
1874. The Protestants obtain their own parish.[1][3]
1875. The Protestant church is inaugurated.[3]
1894. About twenty Hallstatt burial mounds are discovered in the Raspenholz.[2]
1979. The chapel is restored for the third time.[3]
Early 1990s. New building land brings a wave of construction, and the number of commuters rises.[1]
2005. Cordast merges with Gurmels, retroactively from 1 January, under a decree of 18 November 2004.[1][2][3][4]
Population of Cordast
Sources and references: [1]
| 1850 | 329 |
| 1900 | 370 |
| 1950 | 374 |
| 1980 | 342 |
| 1990 | 497 |
| 2000 | 752 |
Historic sites in Cordast
Chapel of St Gerinus. Built in 1614 at the expense of a private benefactor, it was restored for the third time in 1979.[1][3]
Protestant church. Inaugurated in 1875, a year after the creation of the Protestant parish of Cordast.[3]
Village forge. The old forge on the Dorfstrasse is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.[5]
Bulliarholz reservoir. At 668 m, it stands at the highest point of the Lake district.[2]
Remains in Cordast
Raspenholz burial mounds. About twenty Hallstatt burial mounds (800-400 BC), with cremation graves and grave goods, were uncovered in 1894.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cordast » (Olivier Aebischer, version du 23.09.2016)
- Commune de Gurmels, « Cordast » (histoire des villages)
- Commune de Gurmels, « Jahrzahlen Geschichte » (chronologie, PDF)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : liste cantonale, canton de FR » (état au 1.1.2026)
Other villages near Cordast
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