Middes
Origin of the name Middes
Middes appears in 930 as « Mildes ».[1]
Founding of Middes
Middes overlooks the Broye plain, on the border with the canton of Vaud. The site, occupied since prehistory, has yielded a La Tène grave and isolated Roman finds. In the early Middle Ages it belonged to the abbey of Saint-Maurice. From the 13th to the 16th century the lordship passed from the lords of Villarzel to the Loys, Reyff and Lanthen-Heid families, then to the Griset de Forel, who had the château built in 1748. The village belongs to the parish of Torny-Pittet, a hamlet joined to it in 1848. It lives from farming, livestock and a mechanical workshop. Middes is now part of the municipality of Torny (merger of 2004), whose administration it houses.[1][2][5]
History of Middes
Early Middle Ages. Middes belongs to the abbey of Saint-Maurice.[1][2]
930. The village appears as « Mildes ».[1]
13th-16th centuries. The lordship passes from the lords of Villarzel to the Loys, Reyff and Lanthen-Heid families, then to the Griset de Forel.[1]
1478-1798. Middes comes under the bailiwick of Montagny.[1]
16th-17th centuries. Many witchcraft trials take place in the lordship.[1][2]
1748. Jean Paul Nader builds the château for the Griset de Forel.[3]
1798-1803. Middes belongs to the district of Payerne.[1][2]
1803-1831. The village belongs to the district of Montagny.[1][2]
1823. On 13 July Bishop Yenny consecrates the new church of Saint Martin at Torny-Pittet, seat of the parish.[2]
1831 (or 1830)-1848. Middes is attached to the district of Dompierre.[1][2]
1848. Torny-Pittet is joined to Middes, and the municipality enters the Glâne district.[1]
1888. A dairy society is founded.[1]
2003. On 2 December the Grand Council decrees the merger of Middes and Torny-le-Grand.[4]
2004. Middes and Torny-le-Grand form the municipality of Torny on 1 January.[1][2][4]
Population of Middes
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 170 |
| 1850 | 262 |
| 1900 | 345 |
| 1950 | 341 |
| 1980 | 255 |
| 2000 | 327 |
Historic sites in Middes
Griset de Forel château. Built in 1748 by Jean Paul Nader for the Griset de Forel, it is a cultural property of national importance.[1][2]
Church of Saint Martin, Torny-le-Petit. Church of the parish of Torny-Pittet, consecrated by Bishop Yenny on 13 July 1823. Eight stained-glass windows by Claude Sandoz tell the life of Saint Martin.[3]
Torny-le-Petit. A ridge village on the line of the old Roman road from Avenches to Vevey, with 19th-century farmhouses, listed in the federal inventory of heritage sites.[2]
Remains in Middes
La Tène grave and Roman finds. A grave of the La Tène period and isolated finds from the Roman period.[1]
Legends of Middes
The witches' cross. West of the château, by the roadside, a cross called the « croix aux sorcières » recalls the many witchcraft trials of the 16th and 17th centuries.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Middes » (Evelyne Maradan, version du 17.11.2008)
- Commune de Torny, « Historique des 3 villages »
- Unité pastorale Sainte Marguerite Bays, « Église de Torny-le-Petit »
- Grand Conseil du canton de Fribourg, décret du 2 décembre 2003 relatif à la fusion des communes de Middes et Torny-le-Grand (ROF 2003_172)
- Commune de Torny, « Administration communale »
Other villages near Middes
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change