La Roche
Origin of the name La Roche
The place appears in 1134 as « de Rocha ». In German it was once called « Zurflüh ».[1]
Founding of La Roche
La Roche was the seat of a lordship of the same name, covering a long valley between the Cousimbert and the Combert, as well as Pont-la-Ville. Its lords held a castle. The Pays de La Roche had four quarters, united in the parish of Pont-la-Ville. The municipality is made up of five main hamlets, La Serbache, Scherwyl, Le Villaret, L'Adrey and Le Revers.[1][2]
History of La Roche
1164. The castle of the lords of La Roche is first mentioned.[1]
13th century. Alemannic settlers established themselves in the valley. German remained in use there until the late 17th century.[1]
1349. The bishops of Lausanne, masters of the lordship since the 14th century, bought it outright. They granted wide franchises to the inhabitants.[1][2]
1475. Fribourg granted La Roche a treaty of combourgeoisie.[1]
1537. La Roche came under the rule of Fribourg, which attached it to the bailiwick of Bulle.[1][2]
1651-1656. Three of the four quarters left the parish of Pont-la-Ville to form that of La Roche, known as « des Planches ».[1][2]
1772. La Roche and Pont-la-Ville divided their common charges and property, and again in 1848.[1]
1798-1803. La Roche gave its name to a district reaching as far as Praroman, Ependes, Arconciel and Treyvaux.[1][2]
1803-1848. The commune belonged to the district of Corbières.[1][2]
1934. The first ski tow opened at La Berra. By 2009 the area had eight lifts.[1]
Early 21st century. La Roche remains a rural municipality focused on dairy farming, with various crafts.[1]
Population of La Roche
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1811 | 773 |
| 1850 | 1'061 |
| 1900 | 1'081 |
| 1950 | 1'123 |
| 2000 | 1'318 |
| 2025 | 2'083 |
Historic sites in La Roche
Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption. Built from 1652 to 1656 for the new parish, the church is listed in the cantonal inventory of cultural property (category B).[1][3]
Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Compassion at Scherwyl. Recorded in the late 16th century, rebuilt in 1663 and enlarged in 1724, the chapel drew pilgrims in the 17th and 18th centuries.[1]
Le Vègre chapel. Dedicated to Saint James the Greater, it was founded in 1612 and rebuilt in 1712.[1]
Pierre Théraulaz's former inn. This former inn on the Chemin du Stand is listed in the inventory of cultural property, as is a farmhouse at Vers les Roulin.[3]
Remains in La Roche
Le Villaret. At Le Villaret, three Hallstatt-period pit hearths and a small Roman cemetery have been uncovered.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Roche, La » (Marianne Rolle, version du 16.05.2012)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Pont-la-Ville » (Marianne Rolle, version du 13.11.2012)
- 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 La Roche
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