Greng
Origin of the name Greng
The name comes from the Latin « grangia », barn. It is first recorded in 1349, as « Groyn ».[1][2]
Founding of Greng
Greng lies on the south shore of Lake Morat (Murtensee), 2 km south-west of Murten (Morat), and comprises Obergreng and Untergreng. It was originally a farming estate of the bishop of Lausanne. Linked to Murten since the Middle Ages, Greng has always belonged to the parish of Meyriez (Merlach), and families from Murten and Fribourg held land and rights here.[1][2]
History of Greng
1349. Greng appears in the written record as « Groyn ».[1]
Middle Ages. Several mills are mentioned at Greng.[1]
15th century. Greng becomes part of the joint bailiwick of Murten.[1]
Reformation. The bishop of Lausanne loses the estate, which he had held until then.[2]
1550. Greng forms a municipality.[2]
18th century. The physician Johann Friedrich von Herrenschwand acquires an estate at Greng, which later passes to François-Claude Gigot de Garville.[1]
1775-1784. People from Neuchâtel run a printed-calico (indiennes) manufactory.[1]
1785-1787. The present castle is built to plans by Charles de Castella.[1]
1815. Jules Henri Charles Frédéric Pourtalès, from Neuchâtel, takes over the estate and enlarges it.[1]
1893. The estate passes to Emile-Louis Roussy.[1]
1982. The joint administration with Meyriez comes to an end.[1]
Population of Greng
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1850 | 81 |
| 1900 | 70 |
| 1920 | 53 |
| 1950 | 66 |
| 1980 | 55 |
| 2000 | 150 |
| 2010 | 170 |
| 2025 | 179 |
Historic sites in Greng
Greng castle. Built in 1785-1787 to plans by Charles de Castella, it became a much-frequented meeting place. A recent residential district with the municipal centre surrounds it.[1]
Pourtalès tower granary. The tower-shaped granary on the Bureliweg is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.[3]
Manor house. The manor house at Dorfstrasse 4 is also listed as a cultural property of regional importance.[3]
Remains in Greng
Spitz lake-dwelling village. On the Spitz headland, a Late Bronze Age pile-dwelling village, dated between 1050 and 850 BC, is one of the 56 Swiss pile-dwelling sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is a cultural property of national importance.[1][2][3]
Greng-Mühle site. Another shoreline settlement, of Neolithic date, lies at Greng-Mühle.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Greng » (Ursula Birchler, version du 03.04.2019)
- Inventaire PBC, fiche KGS 09598, « Greng, Spitz » (texte du Guide artistique de la Suisse, SHAS)
- 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 Greng
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