Courtion
Origin of the name Courtion
Courtion appears around 1001/1031 as « Curtis Teudonis », then around 1160 as « Cortiun », a name whose meaning is unexplained. A Courtion family bears the name of the place from the 12th to the 14th century.[1]
Founding of Courtion
The village grew up around its church, the centre of a parish that also takes in Cournillens, Cormérod, Corsalettes and Misery. Burghers of Fribourg and the great hospital bought property and rights here in the 13th century. The economy rests on livestock, fodder crops and the timber industry. Courtion has been part of the municipality of Misery-Courtion since the merger of 1 January 1997.[1][3][4]
History of Courtion
1001/1031. King Rudolf III gives the church of Saint-Marcel at Courtion to the abbey of Saint-Maurice.[1]
1152. A parish priest is mentioned around 1152. In 1228 the parish appears in the first official list of parishes of the diocese of Lausanne.[1][3]
13th century. Burghers of Fribourg and the great hospital acquire property and rights in the village.[1]
1425. In 1425 and 1426 the lords of Avenches own a fortified house at Courtion.[1]
1493. The Faucigny family take over a large part of the tithe.[1]
1504. The right of presentation, held first by the lords of Avenches and then by the Faucigny, passes to the chantry of St Nicholas.[1]
1730. The church is rebuilt in 1730 and 1731. Its entrance is moved to the east, which puts the choir at the foot of today's nave.[1][2]
1798. Courtion belongs to the Old Territories, in the Hospital banner, until the end of the Ancien Régime. It then passes to the district of Avenches.[1]
1803. The municipality is assigned to the district of Fribourg, until 1848.[1]
1848. The creation of the Lake district unites the old Catholic territories with the former common bailiwick of Murten.[3]
1887. Mgr Mermillod consecrates the church, which abbé Villard, from Farvagny, has turned round once again.[2]
1960. A first oil well is drilled on Fribourg soil, without result.[1]
1997. Courtion merges with Cormérod, Cournillens and Misery to form Misery-Courtion.[1][4]
Population of Courtion
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 123 |
| 1850 | 209 |
| 1900 | 215 |
| 1950 | 254 |
| 1980 | 214 |
| 1990 | 255 |
Historic sites in Courtion
Church of Saint-Marcel. Dedicated to St Marcellus, pope in the early 4th century, the church was enlarged several times, which changed its orientation. Abbé Villard, from Farvagny, a builder priest, raised the tower on the west side, added aisles and gave the building a « so-called transitional style » between neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic. In the 1950s a coffered ceiling is fitted below the vault and the Baroque altar gives way to a work by Antoine Claraz. Since the restoration of 2006 and 2007 the large crucifix stands against a red background in the choir, and two old statues of St Peter and St Paul flank the entrance to the choir. The church seats 300.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Courtion » (Marianne Rolle, version du 17.08.2005)
- Unité pastorale Sainte-Trinité, « L'église de Courtion »
- Commune de Misery-Courtion, « Historique »
- Commune de Misery-Courtion, « Naissance de la commune de Misery-Courtion » (septembre 2023)
Other villages near Courtion
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