Grandvillard
Origin of the name Grandvillard
The pancarte of Rougemont names a « vilar » family in 1115. The village appears in 1228 as « Vilar » (or « Villar »), then as « Vilar retro Grueriam » in 1309 and « communitas Magni Villari retro Grueriam » in 1457. German speakers once called it « Gross- » or « Langwiler ». The name has received no etymological explanation.[1][2]
Founding of Grandvillard
Grandvillard stretches along the right bank of the Sarine, in the Intyamon. This street village grew from several cores, the « village dessus » (Vers les Bosset), the « village dessous » (La Madeleine or Vers les Décrin) and Saint-Jacquemod. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the county of Gruyère, a Savoyard fief, and to the castellany of Montsalvens. Its parish, first attached to Broc, was independent from 1228 and also included Lessoc. Mills, sawmills and tanneries are recorded from the late Middle Ages.[1][2]
History of Grandvillard
Around 800-600 BC. Two burial mounds were raised at Fin de la Porta.[1][2]
1228. The cartulary of the chapter of Notre-Dame in Lausanne lists the parish of « Villar » in the deanery of Ogoz.[1][2]
1365. John I of Montsalvens bequeathed a house in the village to his nephew Peter of Gruyère, prior of Rougemont.[2]
1388. The inhabitants bought out the right of mortmain from Count Rudolph IV.[1][2]
1462. The community obtained the right to elect its head, the ammann or syndic.[1][2]
Burgundian Wars. The men of Grandvillard fought alongside the Confederates.[1]
1493. The chapel of Saint-Barthélemy was consecrated.[2]
1555. Grandvillard passed to the Fribourg bailiwick of Gruyère.[1][2]
1577-1612. The « village dessus » grew from 71 to 77 inhabitants, the « village dessous » from 102 to 170.[2]
1580. The « Madeleins » were joined to the parish.[2]
1603. The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur and Saint-Barthélemy, built in the late 16th century, was consecrated.[2]
1641. A new bridge linked Villars-sous-Mont to Grandvillard, replacing one that had collapsed.[2]
1651. A flood struck the village, as it did again in 1733 and 1764.[2]
1744. The tithe map shows a channel drawn from the Taouna, mills, sawmills and a tannery.[2]
1798. Grandvillard was attached to the district of Gruyère.[1]
1875. The « marbre gruérien » quarry near the waterfall ceased to be worked.[2]
1936-1937. A concrete church replaced the late 16th-century one. The ossuary was destroyed and the cemetery moved.[1][2]
1974. Gravel extraction began in 1974 (or as early as the 1960s).[1][2]
2003. Twelve farms remained, along with small craft businesses, mainly in woodworking.[1]
Population of Grandvillard
Sources and references: [1][2][4]
| 1811 | 407 |
| 1831 | 394 |
| 1850 | 419 |
| 1900 | 566 |
| 1930 | 484 |
| 1950 | 547 |
| 1980 | 506 |
| 2000 | 605 |
| 2025 | 925 |
Historic sites in Grandvillard
House of the Counts. Dating from the late 16th century and altered in 1717, the house of the counts of Gruyère is listed as cultural property of national importance.[2][3]
Banneret's house. The house of the Montsalvens banneret Pierre Delatena, built from 1659 to 1666, was restored in 1962 and 1991. It is listed as of national importance.[2][3]
Farmhouses. The village core of Gruyère stone houses dates from the late 16th and the 17th century. The house of Marmet Currat and sons, that of François and André Decrind, later Musy, and the Baudevin-Delatena houses are listed as of national importance.[1][3]
Church of Saint-Jacques-et-Saint-Barthélemy. The concrete church of 1936-1937 is listed in the cantonal inventory of cultural property (category B).[1][2][3]
La Daudaz chapel. The village's first church stood on the crest of La Daudaz. It is now the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Compassion, listed in the inventory of cultural property.[2][3]
Former Hôtel du Vanil-Noir. Its cellar bears the date 1584. The neighbouring old inn was joined to it in 1945.[2]
Remains in Grandvillard
Fin de la Porta burial mounds. Two Hallstatt-period burial mounds, around 800-600 BC, were identified at Fin de la Porta. The same site yielded traces of Gallo-Roman occupation and two early medieval inhumation graves.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grandvillard » (Eveline Seewer, version du 04.01.2006)
- Office fédéral de la culture, Inventaire fédéral des sites construits (ISOS), « Grandvillard » (n° 1615), 3e version, mars 2023
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : Liste cantonale Canton de FR » (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 Grandvillard
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