Gurmels
Origin of the name Gurmels
The name appears in 1186 as « Cormulnes », then as « Cormunec » in 1228 and « Cormugnes » in 1242. The German form « Gurmols » is attested from 1240, and the French name Cormondes prevailed from the 15th century. It probably comes from Romance « curtis », an estate, combined with a Germanic personal name, perhaps « Mundo ».[1][3]
Founding of Gurmels
Gurmels (Cormondes) grew up around the church of St Germanus, founded in the 9th and 10th centuries and long the only one allowed to bury the dead of a large parish that also included Cordast, Guschelmuth, Liebistorf, Kleinbösingen and Wallenbuch. For centuries the history of these villages was tied to the lords of Vivers, who were succeeded by the lords of Pont, vassals of the counts of Thierstein. The counts sold the whole area to Fribourg in 1442. Today the timber industry and crafts provide most jobs, and more than half of the working population commutes to Bern, Fribourg or Murten. Since 1978 a series of mergers has brought Monterschu, Kleingurmels, Guschelmuth, Liebistorf, Wallenbuch, Cordast and, on 1 January 2026, Ulmiz into the municipality.[1][2][3][4]
History of Gurmels
Mesolithic. Hunters and fishers live in the area. The Dürenberg then remains continuously inhabited until Roman times.[1][2]
1st-5th century. A Roman settlement and cemetery occupy the Dürenberg.[2]
5th-10th century. A large cemetery takes shape, and a first, very simple church is built on the Dürenberg.[1][2]
9th-10th century. The church of St Germanus is founded. As the centre of a large parish, it alone holds the right of burial.[2]
1228. The chronicle of Estavayer mentions the parish and its church of St Germanus.[1][2]
1293. The lords of Pont inherit Gurmels from the last knight of Vivers, under the overlordship of the counts of Thierstein.[2][3]
1339. First mention of the chapel of Our Lady on the Dürenberg.[1][2]
1442. The counts of Thierstein sell Gurmels and the old parish to Fribourg, which places them in the Old Territories, in the Hospital banner.[1][2][3]
1525. A great fire destroys part of the village.[2][3]
1605. Fire strikes again and consumes 34 buildings, including the church and the presbytery. The church is probably then largely rebuilt.[2][3]
1798-1848. Gurmels belongs to the district of Murten until 1803, to that of Fribourg until 1830 and then to the German district, before passing to the Lake district.[1]
1830. The old parish gives rise to nine political municipalities, with Gurmels remaining their centre.[2]
1899-1900. The church of St Germanus receives a nave with three aisles.[2]
1902. The municipal archives, kept in a farmhouse, burn together with the records from before 1830.[2][3]
1978. Grossgurmels and Monterschu merge under a decree of 9 February 1978.[1][4][6]
2000. With Kleingurmels, the municipality passes 1'500 inhabitants for the first time.[1][2][4][6]
2003. Guschelmuth, Liebistorf and Wallenbuch join Gurmels, which then has 2'579 inhabitants.[1][2][4][6]
2005. Cordast in turn merges with Gurmels, retroactively from 1 January.[1][2][4][6]
2025. On 9 February the merger with Ulmiz is approved by 1'098 votes to 209 in Gurmels and by 145 to 116 in Ulmiz. The Grand Council approves it on 23 May.[4][5]
2026. Ulmiz becomes part of the municipality of Gurmels on 1 January.[4]
Population of Gurmels
Sources and references: [1][2][8]
| 1850 | 420 |
| 1900 | 543 |
| 1950 | 723 |
| 1980 | 974 |
| 2000 | 1'521 (with Kleingurmels) |
| 2003 | 2'579 (after the merger) |
| 2025 | 5'139 (with Ulmiz) |
Historic sites in Gurmels
Church of St Germanus. Mentioned in 1228, burnt in 1605 and then largely rebuilt, it received its three-aisled nave in 1899-1900. The exterior was renovated in 1962-1963 and the interior in 1972-1973. It is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.[1][2][7]
Chapel of Our Lady on the Dürenberg. Attested in 1339 and a much-visited place of pilgrimage, it was restored from 1982 to 1985. It too is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.[1][2][7]
Remains in Gurmels
Dürenberg settlement. Excavations have revealed traces of continuous occupation from the Mesolithic to Roman times, including a Roman settlement and cemetery of the 1st to 5th centuries.[1][2]
Merovingian cemetery. A large early medieval cemetery with rich grave goods and stone coffins was discovered on the Dürenberg.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cormondes » (Olivier Aebischer, version du 12.12.2013)
- Commune de Gurmels, « Jahrzahlen Geschichte » (chronologie, PDF)
- Commune de Gurmels, « Gurmels » (histoire des villages)
- Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2024-DIAF-28 du 15 avril 2025 accompagnant le projet de décret relatif à la fusion des communes de Gurmels et Ulmiz
- Grand Conseil du canton de Fribourg, affaire 2024-DIAF-28, « Fusion des communes de Gurmels et Ulmiz » (décret accepté le 23.05.2025)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
- 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
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Gurmels
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