Fräschels
Origin of the name Fräschels
The village appears in 1225 as « Frescin », then in 1228 as « Frasses », the old French name. The meaning of the name remains obscure.[1]
Founding of Fräschels
Fräschels lies 10 km north-east of Murten (Morat), on the eastern edge of the Grosses Moos. It is the northernmost municipality of the canton. Since the Middle Ages the village has belonged to the parish of Kerzers (Chiètres). Most of the working population is employed in farming or outside the municipality, and a tile works is the only industry.[1]
History of Fräschels
1225. A hospice of the Teutonic Order is recorded at « Frescin ».[1]
1228. The hospice is mentioned again. The village is then called « Frasses ».[1]
After 1275. The Teutonic Order's hospice disappears.[1]
1530. Under pressure from Bern, the parish of Kerzers, to which Fräschels belongs, adopts the Reformation.[2]
1795. In the « Moos war » (also dated 1793), the Fribourg municipalities of Kerzers and Fräschels clash with three Bernese municipalities over rights to land in the Grosses Moos. The Fribourgeois win the fight, but the Bernese obtain the land through the courts.[1][2]
1980s and 1990s. Newcomers make the population grow strongly, from 268 inhabitants in 1980 to 481 in 2000.[1]
Population of Fräschels
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1850 | 291 |
| 1900 | 295 |
| 1950 | 298 |
| 1980 | 268 |
| 2000 | 481 |
| 2025 | 435 |
Historic sites in Fräschels
Tile works. The tile works is the only industrial business in Fräschels.[1]
Remains in Fräschels
Chroneholz burial mounds. Hallstatt-period burial mounds lie in the Chroneholz. Together with those of the Challnechwald on the Bernese side, they are listed as cultural property of national importance.[1][3]
Roman road. Traces of the Roman road from Aventicum to Petinesca cross the municipal territory.[1]
Isolated finds. Isolated Mesolithic and Neolithic objects have been found on the territory of Fräschels.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Fräschels » (Ursula Birchler, version du 31.10.2005)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chiètres » (Anne-Marie Dubler, version du 09.01.2020)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : liste cantonale, canton de Fribourg » (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
Other villages near Fräschels
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