Morlens
Origin of the name Morlens
The place is recorded in 996 as « Morlingis », then under the name Morlens in 1111. It is said to owe its name to a Germanic man called Morlo.[1][2]
Founding of Morlens
Morlens grew up in the so-called valley of Morlinge, on land of the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune. It was the centre of one of the oldest parishes in the canton, founded between the 7th and 9th centuries, until the parish seat moved to Ursy in 1869. The territory, made up of isolated farms, lives from forestry, farming and livestock. Morlens is now part of the municipality of Ursy (merger of 2012), having joined Vuarmarens in 1991.[1][2]
History of Morlens
Hallstatt period. A burial mound is raised near the village.[1]
Roman period. A coin found near the village dates from this period.[1]
7th-9th centuries. The parish of Morlens is founded.[1]
996. The place appears as « Morlingis ». It then belongs to the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.[1][2]
1111. The name Morlens is in use.[2]
1251. The parish is said to have had 800 inhabitants and 182 houses at the time.[2]
1493. The church of Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Médard is rebuilt.[1]
1536-1798. Morlens comes under the Fribourg bailiwick of Rue.[1]
1678. The church is restored.[1]
1798-1848. The municipality belongs to the district of Rue.[1]
1846. The church is in such poor repair that parishioners come to services with umbrellas.[2]
1869. The centre of the parish moves to Ursy.[1]
1990. Six farms remain.[1]
1991. Morlens merges with Vuarmarens, under a decree of 14 November 1990.[1][3]
2012. Together with Vuarmarens, Morlens joins the municipality of Ursy.[1][3]
Population of Morlens
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 41 |
| 1850 | 62 |
| 1900 | 49 |
| 1950 | 62 |
| 1990 | 34 |
Historic sites in Morlens
Church of Saint-Maurice-et-Saint-Médard. The former parish church, rebuilt in 1493 and restored in 1678.[1]
Remains in Morlens
Burial mound. A burial mound of the Hallstatt period, the early Iron Age, has been identified near the village.[1]
Roman coin. A Roman coin has been discovered in the surroundings.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Morlens » (Laurence Margairaz Dewarrat, version du 27.09.2016)
- Commune d'Ursy, « Historique »
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
Other villages near Morlens
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