Orsonnens
Origin of the name Orsonnens
Orsonnens appears in 1138 as « Orsenens ». Its old German name is « Orsonning ».[1]
Founding of Orsonnens
Orsonnens lies on the slopes of the Gibloux. Mounds, perhaps Hallstatt-period barrows, and many fragments of Roman tiles have been recorded on its territory. A fief of the barony of Pont-en-Ogoz, the village belonged to the de Pont family in the 12th and 13th centuries, then came under Savoy, before Fribourg bought the lordship in 1486. Its church is the centre of a parish that took in Chavannes-sous-Orsonnens, Villargiroud and, until 1869, Villarsiviriaux. Livestock, fodder and cereal crops remain its main resources. Orsonnens is now part of the municipality of Villorsonnens (merger of 2001).[1]
History of Orsonnens
1137. The church, with a Romanesque choir, is recorded.[2]
1138. The village appears as « Orsenens ».[1]
1143. The parish is mentioned. It also includes Chavannes-sous-Orsonnens and Villargiroud.[1]
12th-13th centuries. The de Pont family holds Orsonnens, a fief of the barony of Pont-en-Ogoz.[1]
1448. Fribourg forces burn the village.[1]
1486. Fribourg buys the lordship and attaches it to the new bailiwick of Farvagny.[1]
1551-1925. The right of presentation to the church belongs to the collegiate church of Saint Nicholas in Fribourg.[1][2]
1575. The church is enlarged with a Gothic nave.[2]
1629. The Mayor de Lutry family rebuilds the Château d'En Haut.[1]
1665. Ferlens and Massonnens leave the parish.[1]
1673-1675. The church tower is built.[2]
1798-1848. Orsonnens belongs to the district of Farvagny.[1]
1869. Villarsiviriaux leaves the parish of Orsonnens.[1]
1879. The Odet family, last of a line of lords that includes the Billens, Alex, Mayor and Montenach families, remain owners until this year.[1]
1907. A new high altar is consecrated.[2]
1935-1936. Grown too small, the church is demolished and rebuilt by Fernand Dumas.[1][2]
1936-1952. François Hemmer, the village schoolmaster, films village life. His footage forms the archive « Le régent d'Orsonnens ».[3]
1965. The Moléson SA cheese dairy is founded. In 1994 it replaces the village dairies.[1]
1979. Vietnamese Cistercians found the monastery of Notre-Dame de Fatima in the Château d'En Haut, after the Ursulines left in 1977.[1]
2001. Orsonnens merges with Chavannes-sous-Orsonnens, Villargiroud and Villarsiviriaux to form Villorsonnens.[1]
Population of Orsonnens
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 231 |
| 1850 | 340 |
| 1900 | 417 |
| 1950 | 465 |
| 1980 | 257 |
| 2000 | 302 |
Historic sites in Orsonnens
Church of Saint Peter. Rebuilt in 1935-1936 by Fernand Dumas, its patron is Saint Peter or, in other records, Saints Peter and Paul.[1][2]
Château d'En Haut. Rebuilt in 1629 by the Mayor de Lutry family, it housed the Ursulines' Sainte-Marie domestic science school from 1891 to 1977, and since 1979 the Cistercian monastery of Notre-Dame de Fatima.[1]
Château du Bas. The Montenach family restored it in the 17th century.[1]
Village. Orsonnens is listed in the federal inventory of Swiss heritage sites of national importance (ISOS), as is the Café du Cheval-Blanc.[3]
Remains in Orsonnens
Mounds and Roman tiles. Mounds, perhaps Hallstatt-period barrows, and many fragments of Roman tiles.[1]
Former church. Recorded in 1137 with a Romanesque choir, enlarged in 1575 and given a tower in 1673-1675, it was demolished in 1935.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Orsonnens » (Marianne Rolle, version du 20.04.2009)
- Unité pastorale Sainte Marguerite Bays, « Église d'Orsonnens »
- Commune de Villorsonnens, « La commune »
Other villages near Orsonnens
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