Saint-Aubin
Origin of the name Saint-Aubin
The place appears in 1056 in the Latin form « Sancti Albini ». The church, recorded from 1166, is dedicated to Saint Albinus (Aubin). In German the village was once called Sankt Albin.[1]
Founding of Saint-Aubin
Saint-Aubin lies on a slope overlooking the plain of the Basse-Broye, north-west of Avenches, and Roman remains have been found on its land. The village grew up around its parish church, recorded from the 11th century and under the patronage of the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne. It belonged to the lordship of Grandcour until the Duke of Savoy detached it in 1443. With Les Friques and Agnens it then formed a small lordship, whose seat it remained until 1691. The village forms an L: the main street climbs the slope, then turns at a right angle along the ridge.[1][2]
History of Saint-Aubin
11th century. The parish is recorded. Its patronage belongs to the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne.[1]
1166. The church, dedicated to Saint Albinus, appears in the records.[1]
1293. The lordship of Grandcour, to which Saint-Aubin belongs, passes from the Prangins family to the house of Savoy.[1]
1311-1397. The Savoys grant the lordship as a fief to the Grandson family.[1]
1443-1444. The Duke of Savoy detaches Saint-Aubin from Grandcour in 1443. The following year the village forms a small lordship with Les Friques and Agnens, granted to Antoine Angleis.[1]
1497. Saint-Aubin enters into a co-citizenship treaty with Fribourg while remaining under Savoyard rule.[1]
1498. The d'Oncieux family inherits the lordship.[1]
1516-1519. The mason Jean Jornod and his fellow workers build the present late Gothic church.[1][2]
1536. Saint-Aubin acknowledges the overlordship of Fribourg.[1]
1606. The Vallier family acquires the lordship.[1]
1631. Louis Vallier, co-lord, and Anne d'Erlach have the castle built.[1][2]
1691. Fribourg buys back the lordship and makes it a bailiwick. The bailiffs live in the castle until 1798.[1][2]
1798. Saint-Aubin is placed in the district of Avenches, then in that of Montagny in 1803 and in that of Dompierre from 1831 to 1848.[1]
1852. The castle becomes the primary school.[2]
1858. Delley and Portalban break away from the parish.[1]
1971. The Ciba-Geigy agricultural research centre opens. Now the Novartis Centre de recherche santé animale, it drives the strong growth of the service sector.[1][2]
1989. Mushroom growing begins, alongside cereals, tobacco and orchards.[1]
1991. Les Friques merges with Saint-Aubin under a decree of 6 February 1991.[1][3]
1997-1999. The castle is renovated. Its corner towers are rebuilt on the model of those at Cressier (NE).[1][2]
Population of Saint-Aubin
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1811 | 446 |
| 1850 | 605 |
| 1900 | 598 |
| 1950 | 617 |
| 2000 | 1'027 |
| 2025 | 2'106 |
Historic sites in Saint-Aubin
Church of Saint-Aubin. Built from 1516 to 1519 by Jean Jornod, the church has a basilican plan and flamboyant tracery in the choir. Its west tower is dated 1620. It was thoroughly renovated from 1949 to 1951 and is still surrounded by its walled cemetery.[1][2]
Castle. Built in 1631 for Louis Vallier and Anne d'Erlach, seat of the bailiffs from 1691 to 1798 and altered in 1755-1757, it housed the primary school from 1852. It has square corner towers and a hexagonal stair tower to the north, restored from 1997 to 1999.[1][2]
Saint-Aubin fountain. Its octagonal limestone basin bears the arms of François Quillet, governor in 1754. The central column carries a copy of the statue of Saint Albinus, whose original is kept in the Musée d'art et d'histoire in Fribourg.[2]
Presbytery. Mansard-roofed house built in 1877 by the master mason Jacques Calderara.[2]
Hôtel des Carabiniers and Café du Grütli. The Hôtel-restaurant des Carabiniers of 1956, with its large hall of 1934, stands on the foundations of the town house of 1781. At the village entrance, the Café-restaurant du Grütli, a Belle Époque inn of 1898, replaced a farm recorded in 1756.[2]
Remains in Saint-Aubin
Roman remains. Remains from the Roman period have been found on the municipality's land.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saint-Aubin (FR) » (Marianne Rolle, version du 08.02.2011)
- Service des biens culturels du canton de Fribourg, Recensement cantonal des sites construits (SCRoL), district de la Broye, « Saint-Aubin » (février 2026)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
- 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
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Saint-Aubin
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