Riaz
Origin of the name Riaz
Riaz appears in 900 as « Villa Roda ». In German the village was once called « Zum Rad ».[1]
Founding of Riaz
Hunters were already passing through Riaz at the end of the Ice Age. In Antiquity the plain of Marsens-Riaz held a Gallo-Roman vicus, with a temple dedicated to Mars Caturix. The medieval village was church land, later passing to Fribourg. A neighbour of Bulle, served by the A12 and the Bulle bypass, Riaz has become a commuter village, with a cross-country ski centre on the Monts de Riaz.[1]
History of Riaz
1st-3rd century. A Gallo-Roman vicus occupied the plain of Marsens-Riaz.[1]
Before the year 1000. Riaz was already a parish.[1]
11th century. The village belonged to the bishops of Lausanne.[1]
12th century. A watchtower was built at Le Chaffa.[1]
1253. During the war against Savoy, the Fribourgeois set fire to the village.[1]
1537. Riaz came under the rule of Fribourg.[1]
After 1555. The village was attached to the bailiwick of Gruyère.[1]
Around 1670. Riaz had a tannery, two mills and three sawmills.[1]
1717. The Duding family had a country residence built at Plaisance.[1]
1798. Riaz joined the district of Gruyère.[1]
1828. The present church, dedicated to Saint Michael, was consecrated.[1]
1886. The district hospital moved to Riaz. It would become a major employer, with more than 200 jobs.[1]
1986. A Roman villa was discovered at the place called l'Etrey.[1]
2005. The service sector provided 80% of jobs.[1]
2009. The burgher commune still owned 190 hectares of forest, acquired after the bankruptcy of the count of Gruyère and the flight of the bishop of Lausanne.[1]
Population of Riaz
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1750 | 312 |
| 1850 | 593 |
| 1900 | 630 |
| 1950 | 778 |
| 2000 | 1'648 |
| 2025 | 2'924 |
Historic sites in Riaz
Church of Saint-Michel. Consecrated in 1828, the parish church is listed in the cantonal inventory of cultural property (category B).[1][2]
Plaisance. The manor of Bishop Claude-Antoine Duding and the farmhouse of the Plaisance estate are listed in the inventory of cultural property.[2]
Roulema farmhouse. A farmhouse on the Rue de la Roulema is listed as cultural property of national importance.[2]
Chapel of Sainte-Anne and chaplaincy. The chapel of Sainte-Anne and the former chaplaincy on the Route des Monts are listed in the inventory of cultural property (category B).[2]
Remains in Riaz
En Barras vicus and Tronche-Bélon temple. At Tronche-Bélon a temple dedicated to Mars Caturix was followed by a Merovingian cemetery. The Gallo-Roman vicus of En Barras, shared with Echarlens and Marsens, is listed as of national importance.[1][2]
L'Etrey villa. Discovered in 1986, the Gallo-Roman villa of l'Etrey is listed as cultural property of national importance.[1][2]
Le Chaffa tower. Several walls survive of the Le Chaffa watchtower, built in the 12th century.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Riaz » (Alain-Jacques Czouz-Tornare, version du 11.05.2012)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : Liste cantonale Canton de FR » (état au 1.1.2026)
- Service de la statistique du canton de Fribourg (SStat), « Population des communes, de 1900 à 2025 » (T01-02-03), population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Other villages near Riaz
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change