Pringy
Origin of the name Pringy
The name of Pringy, a village in the municipality of Gruyères, has not been explained.
Founding of Pringy
Pringy belongs to the municipality of Gruyères together with the small town, Epagny and Moléson-sur-Gruyères. Until 1767 a path ran through Pringy and Le Pâquier, besides the road to the upper Gruyère that crossed the hill. The village got a railway halt in 1903. In the 1960s a cantonal road was built from Pringy to La Chaux to serve the new Moléson resort. In 1969 Pringy opened one of the first demonstration cheese dairies in Switzerland, and La Maison du Gruyère settled here in 2000, in the station area.[1][4][5]
History of Pringy
1560. Abbot Pierre de Gruyères buys back an altarpiece of Christ and the twelve apostles. Two parts of it, each with three apostles, are now in the chapel of Pringy.[2]
Until 1767. A path runs through Pringy and Le Pâquier, alongside the road to the upper Gruyère that crosses the hill.[1][2]
1811. The Sainte-Agathe chapel is built. Its bell comes from the Berceau chapel at Gruyères.[3]
1903. Pringy becomes a halt on the Palézieux-Montbovon line.[1]
1959. In November an initiative committee led by Robert Boschung applies for a federal concession for a gondola lift from Pringy to Plan-Francey.[5]
1961-1963. In May 1961 the Grand Council accepts the motion of deputy Pierre Morard for a 4 km cantonal road between Pringy and La Chaux. It is built from March 1962 to July 1963.[5]
1969. Pringy opens a demonstration cheese dairy, one of the first in Switzerland.[1]
1998-2000. Ground is broken for La Maison du Gruyère in 1998, and it is inaugurated in 2000.[4]
2025. La Maison du Gruyère celebrates 25 years and more than 3 million visitors. Its plan for new premises awaits changes to the zoning plans for the station area.[4]
Historic sites in Pringy
Sainte-Agathe chapel. Built in 1811, it holds the bell of the Berceau chapel and two panels of an altarpiece of Christ and the twelve apostles, bought back in 1560 by Abbot Pierre de Gruyères.[2][3]
Oratory of Saint Agatha. Higher up, on the road to the Moléson, the oratory was built in 1723 to ask Saint Agatha for protection against floods and fires, after the severe floods of 1701.[3]
La Maison du Gruyère. Near the station, it combines a demonstration cheese dairy, ripening cellars and exhibitions.[1][4]
Manoir Castella du Clos Muré. This manor house is listed as a cultural property (category B).[6]
Remains in Pringy
Lime works at Le Creux. At Le Creux, near Pringy, stood a lime works.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Gruyères (commune) » (Jean-Marc Purro), version du 24.07.2006
- Région de Fribourg, « Histoire de Gruyères » (2018, d'après gruyeres.ch)
- Commune de Gruyères, « Les chapelles de Gruyères »
- Frapp (RadioFr, Amélie Gyger), « La Maison du Gruyère fête ses 25 ans » (02.05.2025)
- Moléson, « Histoire »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : Liste cantonale Canton de FR » (état au 1.1.2026)
Other villages near Pringy
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