Courtepin
Origin of the name Courtepin
The village is mentioned in 1259 as « Courtipin », and its German name is Curtepy. The meaning of the name is not known. The municipality formed by the 2017 merger took the name of the « Courtepin » project in the Lake district prefect's merger plan, approved by the Council of State on 28 May 2013.[1][2]
Founding of Courtepin
Courtepin lies on the Fribourg-Murten axis. In the 15th century its lands belonged to the counts of Thierstein, who granted part of them as fiefs to the Bourgeois hospital of Fribourg and to citizens of the town, before Fribourg acquired their fiefs in 1442. The village now consists of two quarters: the mainly agricultural old quarter and the urban new quarter that grew up around the station. In 2000 industry provided more than two thirds of jobs. Bilingual with a French-speaking majority, the municipality took in Courtaman in 2003, then Barberêche, Villarepos and Wallenried in 2017. Pensier, a hamlet of Barberêche, is therefore also part of it.[1][2][6]
History of Courtepin
1259. First mention of the village, as « Courtipin ».[1]
1434. The counts of Thierstein grant land as fiefs to the Bourgeois hospital of Fribourg and to Guillaume d'Avenches.[1]
1436. Further land is granted as fiefs to Jacques de Praroman and Pierre de Faucigny, citizens of Fribourg.[1]
1442. Fribourg acquires the Thierstein fiefs, and Courtepin belongs to the Old Territories until 1798.[1]
1830. The village moves from the district of Fribourg to the German district.[1]
1860. A Protestant school opens as part of a free school district.[1]
1875. The municipality builds its school, rebuilt in 1909.[1]
1898. The station on the Fribourg-Murten line is built. The new quarter grows up around it.[1]
1903. The Sadem metal works set up in Courtepin.[1]
1949-1951. The church of Notre-Dame du Rosaire is built.[1]
1960. Micarna SA, part of the Migros group, settles here. Between 1960 and 1970 the population grows by 115 %.[1]
1964. Excavations investigate Roman remains and a burial mound.[1]
1975. Courtepin leaves the Catholic parish of Barberêche.[1]
2003. Courtaman merges with Courtepin under a decree of 14 November 2002.[1][3]
2015. On 27 September voters approve the merger with Barberêche, Villarepos and Wallenried, by 565 votes to 272 in Courtepin, 155 to 92 in Barberêche, 184 to 140 in Villarepos and 160 to 80 in Wallenried.[2]
2017. The new municipality of Courtepin, covering 20.54 km², comes into being on 1 January.[1][2]
Population of Courtepin
Sources and references: [1][2][5]
| 1811 | 140 |
| 1900 | 287 |
| 1950 | 447 |
| 1970 | 1'153 |
| 1990 | 1'236 |
| 2000 | 1'626 |
| 2014 | 3'634 (with Courtaman) |
| 2025 | 5'847 |
Historic sites in Courtepin
Church of Notre-Dame du Rosaire. Built from 1949 to 1951, it became the parish church in 1975, when Courtepin separated from the parish of Barberêche.[1]
Station. Built in 1898 on the Fribourg-Murten line, it gave rise to the new quarter.[1]
Municipal school. Built in 1875 and rebuilt in 1909.[1]
Remains in Courtepin
Roman remains and burial mound. A burial mound and Roman remains were excavated in 1964.[1]
Fin Dessus. This site in the municipality, with a Gallo-Roman villa and an early medieval cemetery, is listed as a cultural property of national importance.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Courtepin » (Marianne Rolle, version du 06.04.2017)
- Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2015-DIAF-100 du 10 novembre 2015 sur la fusion des communes de Barberêche, Courtepin, Villarepos et Wallenried (version allemande)
- 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)
- 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
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Barberêche » (Marianne Rolle, version du 15.09.2009)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Courtepin
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