Farvagny-le-Grand
Origin of the name Farvagny-le-Grand
The village is recorded in 1082 as « Faverneis ». The old German name is « Grossfavernach ». The name is said to come from a Roman settler called Fabrinius, whose estate would have been named « Fundus Fabriniacus », unless it derives from the Latin « fabrica », a forge.[1][2]
Founding of Farvagny-le-Grand
Farvagny-le-Grand is an old parish centre, recorded from 1082. In the 12th century the parish came under the canons of the Great St Bernard, who kept a priory here. The village depended on the lordship of Pont, which passed under Savoyard overlordship, until Fribourg bought it. Seat of the bailiwick of Pont-Farvagny from 1617, then capital of the district of Farvagny from 1803 to 1848, it housed the authorities of the area for more than two centuries. The parish covered Farvagny-le-Grand, Farvagny-le-Petit, Posat and Grenilles, the four villages that formed the municipality of Farvagny in 1996. Farvagny-le-Grand is now part of the municipality of Gibloux (merger of 2016).[1][2]
History of Farvagny-le-Grand
1082. The place appears as « Faverneis ».[1]
1177. The parish comes under the canons of the Great St Bernard.[1]
1228. A priory of the canons of the Great St Bernard is mentioned in the village.[1]
1250. The lordship of Pont, on which Farvagny depends, becomes a fief of Savoy.[1][2]
1291. A fulling mill is recorded.[1]
1483. The town of Fribourg buys the lordship of Pont in 1483 (or 1482) and creates the bailiwick of Pont-Farvagny.[1][2]
Late 16th century. The right of collation of the parish passes to the chapter of St Nicholas in Fribourg.[1]
1617. With Pont castle in ruins, Farvagny becomes the seat of the bailiwick. From 1617 to 1625 the courthouse is turned into a castle.[1]
1655. Fribourg law replaces the customary law of Moudon, applied until then.[1]
1726. A first public school opens.[1]
1798. The population resists the French invasion, and the bailiff François-Jacques-Nicolas de Müller stays loyal to Fribourg.[1]
1801. The castle and its estate are sold.[1]
1803-1848. Farvagny is the capital of the district of Farvagny, which groups nineteen municipalities.[1][2]
1834. The parish of Farvagny-le-Grand, Farvagny-le-Petit, Posat and Grenilles counts 50 people on poor relief.[1]
1842. Straw plaiting is in decline.[1]
1888. The parish builds the present church, dedicated to St Vincent the deacon.[1]
1916-1932. An electric omnibus links Fribourg with Farvagny. The final section opens on 1 November 1916, and from 1932 only petrol buses run.[1][3]
1920. The distinction between communal citizens and mere residents disappears. The municipal tax follows in 1923.[1]
1975-1991. The village gains a secondary school (1975), a library (1989) and a nursing home (1991).[1]
1996. On 1 January Farvagny-le-Grand forms the municipality of Farvagny with Farvagny-le-Petit, Grenilles and Posat, as agreed on 16 October 1995 and decreed by the Grand Council on 14 November that year.[1][2][4]
2016. The municipality of Farvagny joins the new municipality of Gibloux.[1]
Population of Farvagny-le-Grand
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 223 |
| 1850 | 343 |
| 1900 | 433 |
| 1980 | 613 |
| 1990 | 905 |
Historic sites in Farvagny-le-Grand
St Vincent's church. Parish church built in 1888 and dedicated to St Vincent the deacon. It replaces an older building.[1]
Electric omnibus depot. The depot of the former Fribourg-Farvagny electric omnibus line, which ran to the village from 1916 to 1932, still stands.[3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Farvagny-le-Grand » (Hubert Guisolan, version du 26.09.2016)
- Commune de Gibloux, « Farvagny » (histoire et fusion de 1996)
- Magalie Goumaz, « En 1912, un omnibus électrique pour assurer la liaison entre Fribourg et Farvagny est inauguré », La Liberté, 25.07.2025 (copie TPF)
- État de Fribourg, « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes » (RSF 141.1.2), législation fribourgeoise
Other villages near Farvagny-le-Grand
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