Nierlet-les-Bois
Origin of the name Nierlet-les-Bois
The form « Nuarlez », recorded in 1171, is the oldest known. Its meaning has not been worked out.[1]
Founding of Nierlet-les-Bois
Protohistoric sherds and Roman walls show that the site was occupied long before the Middle Ages. The village then belonged to the lordship of Montagny and to the parish of Prez. The Gottrau, a Fribourg family, owned the castle and the chapel here. Nierlet-les-Bois has remained agricultural, with livestock, cereals and fodder crops. United with Ponthaux in 1981, it is now part of the municipality of Grolley-Ponthaux (merger of 2025).[1]
History of Nierlet-les-Bois
Protohistory and Roman period. Protohistoric pottery and remains of Roman walls have been found in the area.[1]
1171. The village is mentioned as « Nuarlez ». It then belongs to the lordship of Montagny.[1]
1442-1485. Nierlet-les-Bois is attached to the Old Lands of Fribourg, in the banner of La Neuveville.[1]
1599. The chapel of Saint-Gorgon is built. It belongs to the Gottrau family.[1]
1798-1817. The municipality passes from the district of Payerne (1798) to that of Montagny (1803), then to that of Fribourg (1817).[1]
1848. Nierlet-les-Bois joins the district of the Sarine.[1]
1870. A fire destroys the Gottrau castle.[1]
1877. A new sanctuary replaces the chapel.[1]
1879. The village leaves the parish of Prez for that of Ponthaux.[1]
1980. On 18 September the Grand Council adopts the decree merging Nierlet-les-Bois and Ponthaux.[2]
1981. On 1 January Nierlet-les-Bois is united with Ponthaux.[1][3]
2024. On 3 March the voters of Ponthaux accept the merger with Grolley by 375 votes to 46.[3]
2025. On 1 January Nierlet-les-Bois enters, with Ponthaux, the new municipality of Grolley-Ponthaux.[3]
Population of Nierlet-les-Bois
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 47 |
| 1850 | 75 |
| 1900 | 121 |
| 1950 | 130 |
| 1970 | 94 |
| 1980 | 111 |
Historic sites in Nierlet-les-Bois
Chapel. The sanctuary of 1877 replaced the chapel of Saint-Gorgon, built in 1599 and owned by the Gottrau family.[1]
Remains in Nierlet-les-Bois
Gottrau castle. Owned by the de Gottrau family, it was destroyed by fire in 1870.[1]
Pottery and old walls. Fragments of protohistoric pottery and remains of Roman-period walls have been uncovered.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Nierlet-les-Bois » (Marianne Rolle, version du 05.03.2009, édition italienne)
- État de Fribourg, « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes » (RSF 141.1.2), législation fribourgeoise
- Conseil d'État du canton de Fribourg, message 2023-DIAF-39 accompagnant le projet de décret relatif à la fusion des communes de Grolley et de Ponthaux (07.05.2024, version allemande)
Other villages near Nierlet-les-Bois
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