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Murist

Canton of Fribourg · District: Broye · 612 inhabitants (2013, former municipality of Murist, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Estavayer
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Murist

The village and its parish are recorded in 1228 as « Muris », a name of unknown origin.[1]

Founding of Murist

Murist is first of all a parish, recorded in 1228 and served by chaplains from Lausanne. In the Middle Ages the village belongs to the lordship of La Molière, whose castle overlooks the nearby hill, and follows the customary law of Moudon. Shelly sandstone has been quarried at La Molière since the Middle Ages. Until 1816 Murist forms the large municipality of Murist-La Molière with Montborget and La Vounaise. It is now part of the municipality of Estavayer (merger of 2017).[1][2]

History of Murist

1228. Murist appears as « Muris », already as a parish. Until the Reformation it is served by the chaplains of Saint-Nicolas in the bishop's palace at Lausanne.[1][2]

1281. The first known priest, named Pierre, serves the parish.[2]

1303. Shortly after the division of the lordship of Font, the tower of La Molière rises on the nearby hill, probably on the initiative of Conon V of La Molière.[1][3]

1475. During the Burgundian Wars, Bernese and Fribourg troops take the tower of La Molière.[4]

1536. The tower of La Molière passes to the State of Fribourg. Murist belongs to the bailiwick of Font until 1798, and the State of Fribourg appoints the priest until 1867.[1][3][4]

1654. On 15 April Bishop Knab consecrates three altars in the church.[2]

1687-1833. The very modest church of Saint-Pierre is enlarged in 1687. It gets a tower in 1765, a new nave in 1779 and a choir rebuilt in 1833 with stone from La Molière.[1][2]

1798. A small band from Murist, Montborget and La Vounaise occupies Vuissens castle and drives out the bailiff. Murist joins the district of Estavayer.[1]

1802. The Bourla-Papey burn the archives.[1]

1803-1848. Murist moves to the district of Surpierre in 1803, returns to Estavayer in 1817 and joins the Broye district in 1848.[1]

1816. The large municipality of Murist-La Molière, which also included Montborget and La Vounaise, splits into three.[1]

1937-1938. The old church is pulled down. The foundation stone of the new one, designed by Fernand Dumas and built of La Molière stone, is laid on 12 May 1937, and Bishop Besson consecrates it on 19 October 1938.[1][2]

1956-1966. Farmers found the Murist milk producers' union in 1956. A metal construction firm sets up in 1966.[1]

1981. Montborget and La Vounaise join Murist on 1 January, under a decree of 20 November 1980.[1][6]

1992. Franex in turn merges with Murist, under a decree of 21 May 1992. The same year the chapel of Saint-Nicolas at Franex passes to the parish.[1][2][6]

2017. On 1 January Murist becomes part of the municipality of Estavayer with Bussy, Estavayer-le-Lac, Morens, Rueyres-les-Prés, Vernay and Vuissens. Voters had approved the merger on 14 June 2015 by 229 votes to 60.[1][5]

Population of Murist

Sources and references: [1][5]

Population of Murist
1811180
1850258
1900281
1950276
1980171
2000431
2010566
2013612

Historic sites in Murist

Church of Saint-Pierre. Built in 1937-1938 by Fernand Dumas of La Molière stone, the church is dedicated to Saint Peter, patron of the parish. The calvary and a fresco by Paul Monnier belong to it.[1][2]

La Molière tower. The only remnant of the castle of the lords of La Molière, this square tower of 1303 has two storeys, each with a fireplace for one of the two co-lords. Once it owned the tower, Fribourg gave it a pavilion roof, and Frédéric Broillet restored it in 1918. With the towers of Gourze and Saint-Triphon it formed a signal network that operated until 1798. It is nicknamed « the eye of Switzerland » for its view over the lakes and the Plateau.[3][4]

Grotto of Notre-Dame de Grâce. At the edge of the village towards Franex, the grotto regularly hosts services.[2]

Remains in Murist

Castle and borough of La Molière. Seat of the lords of La Molière, the castle is already in ruins by 1580. In the early 19th century a shelly sandstone quarry, worked since the Middle Ages, removes its remains and those of the neighbouring fortified borough.[1][3][4]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Murist » (Marianne Rolle, version du 06.04.2017)
  2. Paroisse Saint-Laurent Estavayer, « Communauté de Murist »
  3. Inventaire suisse des biens culturels (PBC), « Tour de La Molière », d'après le Guide artistique de la Suisse (SHAS)
  4. Fribourg Région, « La Molière Tower »
  5. Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2015-DIAF-73 du 25 août 2015 accompagnant le projet de loi relatif à la fusion des communes de Bussy, Estavayer-le-Lac, Morens, Murist, Rueyres-les-Prés, Vernay et Vuissens
  6. État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »

Other villages near Murist

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