Ponthaux
Origin of the name Ponthaux
The village appears in 1142 as « Pontet ». In the 14th century a family « Ponthouz » lived here. The meaning of the name has not been established.[1]
Founding of Ponthaux
In the Middle Ages Ponthaux belonged to the lordship of Montagny. Its chapel of Saint-Maurice came under the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne and depended on the parish of Prez-vers-Noréaz. The village lived under Vaud customary law and has kept its farming character, with livestock and fodder crops. Nierlet-les-Bois joined it in 1981. Ponthaux is now a village of the municipality of Grolley-Ponthaux (merger of 2025).[1][2]
History of Ponthaux
Neolithic and Roman times. Isolated objects from both periods have been found on the land.[1]
1142. Ponthaux is first recorded, as « Pontet ».[1]
1145-1159. The bishop of Lausanne gives the chapel of Saint-Maurice to the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne.[1]
1228. The chapel is described as parochial, although it depends on Prez-vers-Noréaz.[1]
1355. Aymon de Montagny hands over the great tithe of Ponthaux to Ulrich Cristan of Fribourg.[1]
1447. During the war against Savoy, the Fribourgers set fire to the village.[1]
1478. Fribourg now holds the lordship. Ponthaux is placed in the bailiwick of Montagny.[1]
Late 16th century. A new place of worship replaces the chapel.[1]
1662. The municipality receives its statutes.[1]
1798-1848. Ponthaux moves from the district of Payerne (1798) to those of Montagny (1803), Fribourg (1815) and then Dompierre (1830-1848).[1]
1879. Ponthaux and Nierlet-les-Bois form their own parish.[1]
1882. A new church is consecrated.[1]
1981. Nierlet-les-Bois and Ponthaux merge, by decree of the Grand Council of 18 September 1980.[1][3]
2015. In September a first merger plan with Grolley fails, rejected in Grolley by 16 votes.[2]
2024. On 3 March Ponthaux approves the merger with Grolley by 375 votes to 46.[2]
2025. Ponthaux and Grolley form the municipality of Grolley-Ponthaux.[2]
Population of Ponthaux
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1811 | 119 |
| 1850 | 223 |
| 1900 | 350 |
| 1950 | 379 |
| 2000 | 488 |
| 2018 | 745 (civil population) |
| 2022 | 796 (civil population) |
Historic sites in Ponthaux
Church. Consecrated in 1882, it serves the parish of Ponthaux and Nierlet-les-Bois created in 1879.[1]
Remains in Ponthaux
Chapel of Saint-Maurice. The chapel given to the priory of Saint-Maire in the 12th century made way for a new place of worship in the late 16th century.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ponthaux » (Marianne Rolle, version du 06.08.2009)
- 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)
- État de Fribourg, « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes » (RSF 141.1.2), législation fribourgeoise
Other villages near Ponthaux
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