FRDEITEN
Villages / Fribourg / Sarine district / Lovens

Lovens

Canton of Fribourg · District: Sarine · Former municipality, now part of La Brillaz
Part of the municipality of La Brillaz
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Lovens

The name Lovens is thought to be of Germanic origin, from a personal name such as Lauba or Lobo. It has also been linked to the Latin lupus, the wolf, like that of La Louvière in Belgium.[1]

Founding of Lovens

In the Middle Ages Lovens belonged to the lordship of Montagny, a vassal of Savoy, before passing to Fribourg. The village depended on the parish of Onnens. Part of the forest of La Brillaz lies on its territory, and clay from the Nex marsh long supplied the neighbouring brickworks of Lentigny. Lovens is today in the municipality of La Brillaz (merger of 2001).[1][2][3]

History of Lovens

1442. Lovens belongs to the lordship of Montagny, a vassal of Savoy.[1]

1477. Having passed to Fribourg during the Burgundian Wars (1474-1477), the village joins the Fribourg bailiwick of Montagny, created that year.[1]

1848. The district of Sarine brings Lovens, Onnens and Lentigny together. Lovens then has its own school, like Onnens.[1][4]

1860. The Lovens school has 15 boys and 13 girls. Its schoolroom is rated « very good » and its master placed in the first category.[1]

1905. As the clay at Lentigny runs out, an aerial ropeway links Lovens to the brickworks to bring clay from the Nex marsh.[1][4]

1947. The citizens of Lovens demand a direct road to Onnens. Estimated at 90'000 francs, it seems far too costly to the people of Onnens.[1]

1950. Lovens leaves the school district and opens its own school, with about 25 pupils.[1]

1963. Judged not cost-effective, the school closes and the children return to Onnens.[1]

2001. On 1 January Lovens, Lentigny and Onnens form the municipality of La Brillaz, under a decree of 16 November 2000.[5]

Historic sites in Lovens

Forest of La Brillaz. Lying mostly on the territory of Prez and partly on that of Lovens, it gave its name to today's municipality, like the chapel of the same name.[2]

Nex marsh. From here, from 1905, came the clay for the Lentigny brickworks, carried by aerial ropeway.[1]

Sources

  1. Commune de La Brillaz, « Historique » (Jean-Marie Barras et Christine Barras, octobre 2023)
  2. Commune de La Brillaz, « Histoire »
  3. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Onnens (FR) » (Marianne Rolle, version du 02.12.2010)
  4. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lentigny » (Marianne Rolle, version du 15.05.2006)
  5. État de Fribourg, « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes » (RSF 141.1.2), législation fribourgeoise
  6. Service de la statistique du canton de Fribourg (SStat), « Population des communes, de 1900 à 2025 » (T01-02-03)

Other villages near Lovens

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change