Kleinbösingen
Origin of the name Kleinbösingen
The village appears in 1264 as « Balsingen lo pitet », then as « Besingen » in 1264-1265. « Zänerbösingen » is found in 1584 and « Welschbösingen » in the 18th century. The name has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Kleinbösingen
Kleinbösingen lies on the left bank of the Saane, at the end of Lake Schiffenen, between Murten (Morat) and Fribourg. The village has always belonged to the parish of Gurmels (Cormondes).[1]
History of Kleinbösingen
1264. The village enters the written record as « Balsingen lo pitet ».[1]
Middle Ages. The commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of St John in Fribourg holds a fief at Kleinbösingen and collects dues there.[1]
Until 1798. Kleinbösingen belongs to Fribourg's Old Territories.[1]
1798-1803. The village is attached to the district of Morat.[1]
1803-1847. It belongs to the district of Fribourg until 1830, then to the German district from 1831 to 1847.[1]
1848. Kleinbösingen joins the Lake district.[1]
1883-1982. Kleinbösingen and Liebistorf have a joint administration.[1]
1940s. The Saane is canalised near the village.[2]
1960. Construction of the Schiffenen dam ends the river's natural dynamics.[2]
1960s. Gravel is extracted from the old bed of the Saane at the Auried. The digging recreates conditions close to those of a floodplain.[2]
1981. Pro Natura buys the Auried from the municipality (or in 1980) with the proceeds of its Chocolate Thaler campaign, and makes it a 15-hectare nature reserve.[1][2]
1980s. The new districts of Bergacher and Grueneburg are built. The village centre keeps its farming character.[1]
1997. Highland cattle begin grazing in the reserve. The same year the lapwing settles there as a breeding bird.[2]
Population of Kleinbösingen
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1811 | 100 |
| 1850 | 299 |
| 1900 | 256 |
| 1950 | 267 |
| 2000 | 506 |
| 2025 | 698 |
Historic sites in Kleinbösingen
Auried nature reserve. A former gravel pit of about 15 ha on the Saane, owned by Pro Natura. Lapwing, little bittern, great reed warbler and nightingale can be seen here. The endangered great crested newt lives here with the yellow-bellied toad and the tree frog, of which more than 200 calling males are heard in spring.[1][2]
Village core. The village centre has kept its farming character intact.[1]
Remains in Kleinbösingen
Hallstatt cemetery. A cemetery of the Hallstatt period has been identified on the municipal territory.[1]
Roman villa. The territory has also yielded the remains of a Gallo-Roman farming estate.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Kleinbösingen » (Eveline Seewer, version du 20.08.2007)
- Pro Natura Fribourg, « Auried », petit guide naturaliste d'une réserve de Pro Natura
- 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 Kleinbösingen
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