Granges-Paccot
Origin of the name Granges-Paccot
In 1317 a deed mentions the « Grangiarum ante la mota dicti castri », the barns standing before the motte of the castle. These barns took in turn the name of the families who owned them. In the 16th century the estate was farmed by members of the Paccot family, probably from Cournillens. In German the place is called « Zur Schüren ».[1]
Founding of Granges-Paccot
Granges-Paccot, north of Fribourg, grew out of a group of barns and farms. In the 13th century these barns formed, together with Givisiez, a lordship held by the d'Englisberg family, who had a castle here. They then passed to the Billens family, who sold them in 1317 to the hospital of Fribourg. Made up of about ten hamlets, the place had farms and a mill. In the early modern period the Fribourg patriciate spent the summer here. This scattered village separated from Givisiez in 1793 to form a municipality, but remained part of the parish of Givisiez.[1]
History of Granges-Paccot
13th century. The barns form, with Givisiez, a lordship of the Englisberg family, who own a castle on the spot.[1]
1317. The Billens family sells the barns to the hospital of Fribourg.[1]
16th century. Members of the Paccot family, probably from Cournillens, farm the estate.[1]
Early modern period. Families of the Fribourg patriciate stay here during the summer.[1]
1793. Granges-Paccot separates from Givisiez and becomes a municipality, which still belongs to the parish of Givisiez.[1]
1808. Work begins on the road linking the new Fribourg district of Morat to the cantonal capital.[1]
1857-1862. The Grandfey viaduct is built over the Sarine. In the 19th century two railway lines cross the municipality, but no station serves it.[1][3]
1906. Long shared with Givisiez, the primary school opens its own building and becomes the symbol of the municipality's identity.[1]
1925-1927. The arrival of electric trains requires the Grandfey viaduct to be rebuilt in concrete, without interrupting traffic.[2]
1977. The A12 motorway cuts the municipality in two. It slows residential policy but attracts large retail outlets and industry.[1]
1988. Richard Serra installs his sculpture « Maillart Extended » at the entrances to the Grandfey viaduct footbridge.[2][3]
Population of Granges-Paccot
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1811 | 167 |
| 1850 | 180 |
| 1900 | 311 |
| 1950 | 480 |
| 1970 | 1'303 |
| 2000 | 2'042 |
| 2025 | 3'989 |
Historic sites in Granges-Paccot
Grandfey viaduct. Built between 1857 and 1862, first as an iron truss, then rebuilt in reinforced concrete from 1925 to 1927, the viaduct crosses the Sarine 80 metres high over a length of 341 metres. It carries two railway tracks and, below them, a footbridge linking Granges-Paccot to Düdingen. It is a monument of national importance, protected by the canton.[2][3]
« Maillart Extended ». Sculpture by Richard Serra placed in 1988 on the access stairs to the footbridge. It too is protected for its cultural value.[2][3]
Forum Fribourg. With the opening of this exhibition centre, the municipality took part in the birth of the Fribourg agglomeration.[1]
Remains in Granges-Paccot
Castle of the Englisberg family. In the 13th century the d'Englisberg family owned a castle at Granges. The deed of 1317 places the barns before its motte, « ante la mota dicti castri ».[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Granges-Paccot » (Martin Nicoulin, version du 17.07.2007)
- Fribourg Région, « Viaduc de Grandfey »
- Commune de Granges-Paccot, message du Conseil communal à l'Assemblée communale du 16.12.2019 (accès au viaduc de Grandfey)
- 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 Granges-Paccot
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