Montagny-les-Monts
Origin of the name Montagny-les-Monts
The place appears in 1146 through its castle, as "castrum Montaniacum". The village's former German name was "Montenach-Berg".[1]
Founding of Montagny-les-Monts
Montagny-les-Monts, on the left bank of the Arbogne, was the centre of the lordship of Montagny. The castle of the lords of Montagny stood there from the 12th century. The former municipality comprised the villages of Montagny-les-Monts and Cousset, the hamlets of Les Arbognes and Villarey, and the enclave of Tours, the original seat of the parish. In January 2021 Cousset had 1'071 inhabitants and Montagny-les-Monts 188. Montagny-les-Monts is now part of the municipality of Montagny (merger of 2000).[1][3][5]
History of Montagny-les-Monts
1146. The castle is recorded as "castrum Montaniacum".[1]
late 13th century. The castle's great round belfry tower is built in the last quarter of the century.[3]
14th century. The castle chapel is built. Its Gothic choir now forms the choir of the church.[1][4]
1476. The castle is plundered.[1]
1478. Fribourg acquires the lordship of Montagny, which becomes a bailiwick.[1]
1504-1509. Burnt in 1504, the castle is rebuilt in 1508-1509. It is restored again in 1752.[1][3]
1760. The nave of the church is rebuilt.[1][4]
1798-1848. The village passes to the district of Payerne in 1798, to that of Montagny in 1803, to that of Dompierre in 1831 and to the Broye district in 1848.[1]
1802. Sold as national property, the castle is used as a quarry until 1827. Only the tower survives.[1][3]
1874. Mannens-Grandsivaz breaks away from the parish.[1]
1876. The Fribourg-Payerne railway opens a station at Cousset.[1]
1889. The dairy society is founded.[1]
1925-1926. The church is enlarged and its bell tower moved.[1][4]
1964. A watchmaking industry settles here, until 1983, as does the Fabrique des tabacs réunis, until 1987.[1]
1989. The Général Nicolas de Gady Foundation is set up to save the castle tower.[1]
2000. On 1 January Montagny-les-Monts and Montagny-la-Ville form the municipality of Montagny, under a Grand Council decree dated 11 February 2000.[5][6]
Population of Montagny-les-Monts
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 284 |
| 1850 | 615 |
| 1900 | 774 |
| 1950 | 752 |
| 1990 | 754 |
| 1999 | 864 |
Historic sites in Montagny-les-Monts
Castle tower. Of the castle of the lords of Montagny, at the Pré de l'Etang, only the great round belfry tower remains. The ruins are a cultural property of national importance.[2][3]
Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception. The Gothic choir of the early 14th century keeps its keystones, painted decoration of 1646, the tombstone bearing the arms of the lords of Montagny and, in the arched tomb recess, a Coronation of the Virgin painted in the second quarter of the 14th century. The Virgin and Child known as "with the bird", carved in molasse around 1340, the masterpiece of the lords' Lady chapel, stands at the left side altar. One bell dates from 1515. The church is a cultural property of national importance.[2][4]
Remains in Montagny-les-Monts
Prehistory and Roman villa. The land has yielded Mesolithic remains, Bronze Age and Hallstatt burials, and a Gallo-Roman villa at Tours.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montagny-les-Monts » (Marianne Rolle, version du 27.11.2008)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : liste cantonale, canton de Fribourg » (état au 1.1.2026)
- Inventaire PBC, fiche KGS 02234, « Pré de L'Etang, ruines du château de Montagny » (Guide artistique de la Suisse, SHAS)
- Inventaire PBC, fiche KGS 02232, « Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception » (Guide artistique de la Suisse, SHAS)
- Commune de Montagny, « Situation actuelle » (histoire de la commune)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
Other villages near Montagny-les-Monts
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