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Villages / Fribourg / Broye district / Franex

Franex

Canton of Fribourg · District: Broye · 46 inhabitants (1990, former municipality of Franex, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Estavayer
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Franex

The village is mentioned in 1242 as « Frasnei ». The meaning of the name is unclear.[1]

Founding of Franex

Franex lies in the Fribourg enclave of Estavayer-le-Lac. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the lordship of Estavayer, while the cathedral chapter of Lausanne owned land and serfs there. Until the Reformation its inhabitants belonged to the parish of Combremont, and afterwards to that of Murist. A village of cereals and livestock, Franex joined Murist in 1992. It is now part of the municipality of Estavayer (merger of 2017).[1]

History of Franex

1242. The village is recorded as « Frasnei ».[1]

Late 15th century. The thirteen painted statuettes of Christ and the apostles kept in the chapel date from this period.[1]

1536. Franex is incorporated into the bailiwick.[1]

1625. The chapel of Saint-Nicolas is mentioned.[1]

1795. The chapel is restored.[1]

1798-1848. Franex belongs to the district of Estavayer-le-Lac.[1]

1992. Franex merges with Murist, under a decree of the Grand Council of 21 May 1992.[1][3][4]

2017. Murist becomes part of the new municipality of Estavayer. Its voters had accepted the merger on 14 June 2015 by 229 votes to 60.[1][5]

Population of Franex

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Franex
181184
1850131
1900115
1950110
199046

Historic sites in Franex

Chapel of Saint-Nicolas-de-Myre. Mentioned in 1625 and restored in 1795, it holds thirteen painted statuettes from the late 15th century representing Christ and the twelve apostles. It is listed as a cultural property of regional importance (B object).[1][2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Franex » (Marianne Rolle, version de 2003, remanié le 06.04.2017)
  2. Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : liste cantonale, canton de Fribourg » (état au 1.1.2026)
  3. État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
  4. Commune d'Estavayer, « Murist »
  5. Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2015-DIAF-73 du 25 août 2015 sur la fusion des communes de Bussy, Estavayer-le-Lac, Morens, Murist, Rueyres-les-Prés, Vernay et Vuissens

Other villages near Franex

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