Montbovon
Origin of the name Montbovon
The village appears in 1255 as « Montebovonis » and « Mons bovonis ». Its old German name is « Bubenberg ». No explanation of these names has been put forward.[1][2]
Founding of Montbovon
Montbovon grew up on the left bank of the Sarine, on the old main road from Bulle to Château-d'Œx, where the path to the Jaman pass begins. The hamlets of Allières, Vers-les-Pichon, Vers-les-Jordan, Vers-les-Moret, Comba d'Avau and Comba d'Amont, between 800 and 1000 m, arose from later settlement. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the county of Gruyère and to the parish of Bulle, then to that of Albeuve. Montbovon is today a village of the municipality of Haut-Intyamon (merger of 1 January 2002).[1]
History of Montbovon
1228. The village was attached to the parish of Albeuve.[1]
1255. Montbovon is mentioned for the first time.[1][2]
1516. The inhabitants built a chapel of Saint Gratus, in 1516 (or from 1515 to 1517).[1][2]
1555. When the county of Gruyère fell, Fribourg took the village and incorporated it into the bailiwick of Gruyère until 1798.[1][2]
1572. The Pont du Moulin, a single stone arch, is mentioned. Cheese caravans used it before climbing to the Jaman pass.[4]
1578. The Pontey bridge, which recrosses the Hongrin, was built in stone.[4]
1618. Montbovon separated from the parish of Albeuve.[1][2]
1621. A parish church replaced the chapel of Saint Gratus.[1][2]
Late 17th century. Fribourg tried to levy a customs duty at Allières, which Bern opposed.[2]
1721. Allières received its chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene.[1]
1798-1848. Montbovon belonged to the district of Gruyère.[1]
1837. A new bridge was built for the carriage road to the Pays-d'Enhaut.[4]
1854. The Hôtel de Jaman opened. The village was then a holiday resort, and the Hôtel de la Gare followed in 1904.[1]
1896. The hydroelectric plant was founded, then enlarged in 1899. None of the industries it powered lasted.[1]
1897. A new church in the neo-Romanesque style was built.[1][2]
1903. The Châtel-Saint-Denis-Bulle-Montbovon and Montreux-Bernese Oberland railway lines opened.[1]
1912. The producers founded a dairy society.[1]
1969-1971. The plant's dam was raised.[1]
1990. A mudslide destroyed the chapel at Allières, which was rebuilt in 1995.[1]
2002. On 1 January, Montbovon formed the municipality of Haut-Intyamon with Albeuve, Lessoc and Neirivue.[1][2]
Population of Montbovon
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 389 |
| 1850 | 387 |
| 1900 | 611 |
| 1950 | 483 |
| 2000 | 252 |
Historic sites in Montbovon
Parish church. The neo-Romanesque church of 1897 succeeded that of 1621. It was restored in 1997.[1][2]
Le Vieux Chalet. The former Croix-Blanche inn, known as Le Vieux Chalet, on the Route du Lac, is listed as cultural property of national importance.[3]
The bridges. The municipality has about ten bridges, including several old bridges over the Sarine and the Hongrin dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The Pont du Moulin and the Pont du Pontet at Allières are listed in the inventory of cultural property.[1][3][4]
Allières chapel. The chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene, from 1721, was rebuilt in 1995 after a mudslide destroyed it.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montbovon » (Marianne Rolle, version du 26.09.2016)
- Commune de Haut-Intyamon, « Histoire de la commune »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : Liste cantonale Canton de FR » (état au 1.1.2026)
- Musée gruérien, fiche 18, « Cinq ponts côte à côte sur la route du fromage. Franchir les gorges entre Albeuve, Lessoc et Montbovon »
Other villages near Montbovon
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change