Ependes
Origin of the name Ependes
The village is first recorded in 1142 as « Spindes ». German speakers once called it « Spinz ». The meaning of the name remains obscure.[1]
Founding of Ependes
Ependes grew up around a church built on the site of a Roman settlement. A family of knights of Ependes is recorded from 1142 to the end of the 13th century. The village belonged to the lordship of Arconciel, and much property here depended on the abbey of Hauterive. The tithes passed from the knights to the lords of Marly, then to Fribourg families, the Lombard, d'Avenches, de Prez, de Praroman, Lanther, Rudella and finally d'Amman until 1846. The parish of Ependes once included Sales, Praroman, Port-sur-Marly and Chésalles. Long given to livestock and fodder crops, the village has become residential. Ependes is now part of the municipality of Bois-d'Amont (merger of 2021).[1][5]
History of Ependes
Roman period. The site is inhabited. Beneath the church and around it lie traces of a Roman settlement, with a silver coin from the year 79, spindle whorls, pottery and tiles.[1][2]
1142. The village appears as « Spindes ». A family of knights bears its name until the end of the 13th century.[1]
1146. The parish is mentioned for the first time.[1]
1417. The church of Saint-Étienne is recorded.[1]
15th century. Ependes becomes part of the Old Lands of Fribourg, where it remains until 1798.[1]
1532. The Lanther family builds the castle.[1]
1601. The municipality adopts its statutes.[1]
1638. Clauda Piccand, a resident of Ependes, is tried for witchcraft in Fribourg.[2]
1644. Praroman separates from the parish.[1]
1798-1848. Ependes belongs to the district of La Roche, then to that of Fribourg from 1803.[1]
1850. The hamlet of Port-sur-Marly also leaves the parish.[1]
1933. The church of Saint-Étienne burns down.[1]
1935. A new church is inaugurated.[1]
1977. Ependes absorbs the municipality of Sales, under a decree of 2 November 1976.[1][4]
1978. Chésalles breaks away from the parish.[1]
1984. An astronomical observatory, set up on the initiative of the Robert A. Naef foundation, is inaugurated.[1]
2020. On 9 February Ependes approves the merger by 328 votes to 102.[3]
2021. On 1 January Ependes, Arconciel and Senèdes form the municipality of Bois-d'Amont.[1][3]
Population of Ependes
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 275 |
| 1850 | 277 |
| 1900 | 404 |
| 1950 | 347 |
| 1970 | 340 |
| 2000 | 1'034 |
| 2010 | 1'022 |
| 2020 | 1'118 |
Historic sites in Ependes
Church of Saint-Étienne. Recorded in 1417 and rebuilt in the 17th century, it burned in 1933. The present building was inaugurated in 1935.[1]
Castle. Built in 1532 by the Lanther family, who held tithes in Ependes.[1]
Robert A. Naef Observatory. Inaugurated in 1984 on the initiative of the foundation of the same name.[1]
Star of Ependes. 15 m high and 40 m long, the great star put up at the end of the year has become the emblem of the village.[2]
Remains in Ependes
Roman settlement. Its remains were uncovered beneath the church and nearby: a silver coin from the year 79, spindle whorls, pottery and tiles.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ependes (FR) » (Marianne Rolle, version du 09.06.2021)
- Commune de Bois-d'Amont, « Historique » (Ependes)
- Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2019-DIAF-37 accompagnant le projet de décret relatif à la fusion des communes d'Arconciel, Ependes et Senèdes (10.03.2020)
- État de Fribourg, « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes » (RSF 141.1.2), législation fribourgeoise
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Sales (Sarine) » (Marianne Rolle, version du 21.06.2021)
Other villages near Ependes
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