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Villages / Fribourg / Broye district / Ménières

Ménières

Canton of Fribourg · District: Broye · 443 inhabitants (2025, former municipality of Ménières, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Fétigny-Ménières
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Ménières

The first mention, in 1228, refers to the « hospitale de Meinires ». The name itself has not been explained.[1]

Founding of Ménières

Ménières lies in the Estavayer-le-Lac enclave. Isolated Neolithic objects and traces of a Roman settlement have been found there. In the Middle Ages a leper house and a hamlet called l'Hôpital belong to the abbey of Payerne, and Ménières is the seat of a parish, which includes Fétigny until 1796. The tithes of this parish often set the abbey of Payerne against Bern. The lordship belongs to the lords of La Molière, then from the 15th century to those of Cugy. Ménières is now part of the municipality of Fétigny-Ménières (merger of 1 January 2026).[1][4]

History of Ménières

Neolithic. Isolated objects from this period have been found on the village's territory.[1]

Roman period. A Roman settlement occupies the site.[1]

1228. The « hospitale de Meinires » is mentioned. The parish is recorded the same year.[1]

14th-15th centuries. The lordship, first held by the lords of La Molière, is divided among several owners, then passes to the lords of Cugy.[1]

1655. A granary is built. It later belongs to the notable François Rey, recorded in 1818.[2]

1658. Fribourg buys the lordship and makes it part of the bailiwick of Estavayer, until 1798.[1]

1660 (ou 1697-1698). The church is rebuilt. First dedicated to Saint Hilary, it later comes under the patronage of Saint Denis.[1][2]

1740. Tobacco is grown at Ménières, alongside cereals and livestock.[1]

1752-1753. A presbytery is built. It will be replaced in 1887.[2]

1796. Fétigny breaks away from the parish of Ménières.[1]

1798-1848. Ménières belongs to the district of Estavayer (1798-1803), then to Surpierre (1803-1848). It is in the Broye district from 1848.[1]

1900-1901. The Auberge aux XIX cantons replaces an old inn.[2]

1907-1910. Ménières carries out the canton's first land consolidation.[1]

1937. Fernand Dumas radically remodels the church.[1][2]

1963. Emilio Antognini builds the primary school.[2]

2000. The village has fourteen farms. Gravel pits, a machine shop and a general building firm also operate there.[1]

2015. On 14 June Ménières, with three other municipalities, accepts a five-way merger under the name « Verdières ». The rejection by Les Montets sinks the project.[3]

2025. On 9 February Ménières approves the merger with Fétigny by 165 votes to 30.[3]

2026. On 1 January Ménières and Fétigny form the municipality of Fétigny-Ménières.[3][4]

Population of Ménières

Sources and references: [1][3][5]

Population of Ménières
1811155
1850245
1900305
1950277
1980233
2000297
2018439 (legal population)
2023442 (legal population)
2025443

Historic sites in Ménières

Church of Saint-Hilaire. A 17th-century church, remodelled by Fernand Dumas in 1937 and restored in 2007. It stands over the upper core of the village, with 19th-century farmhouses.[2]

Former presbytery. Dated 1887, it replaces the presbytery of 1752-1753.[2]

Broye farmhouses and granary. Four large farmhouses from the last quarter of the 18th century line the street of the lower core. The 1655 granary stands nearby.[2]

Auberge aux XIX cantons. Built in 1900-1901 on the site of an old inn.[2]

Remains in Ménières

Leper house of l'Hôpital. In the Middle Ages a leper house and the hamlet called l'Hôpital belonged to the abbey of Payerne.[1]

Roman traces. Remains point to a Roman settlement, and isolated Neolithic objects have been collected.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ménières » (Marianne Rolle, version du 09.02.2012)
  2. Service des biens culturels du canton de Fribourg, Recensement cantonal des sites construits d'importance régionale et locale (SCRoL), « Ménières », février 2026
  3. Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2024-DIAF-31 du 15 avril 2025 accompagnant le projet de décret approuvant la fusion des communes de Fétigny et Ménières
  4. Grand Conseil du canton de Fribourg, « Décret approuvant la fusion des communes de Fétigny et Ménières » (objet 2024-DIAF-31)
  5. 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 Ménières

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