St. Ursen
Origin of the name St. Ursen
Saint-Ours in French. The name, recorded in 1651 as «ex sancto Urso», comes from the chapel of Saint Ursus. The hamlet around it was previously called Remiswil.[1]
Founding of St. Ursen
St. Ursen (Saint-Ours) groups the village of that name and several hamlets. A Hallstatt-period burial mound and large early medieval cemeteries have been found here. As the Ennet-dem-Bach-Schrot, this quarter belonged politically and ecclesiastically to the parish community of Tafers (Tavel). Until the end of the 19th century the lower part of the municipality consisted mainly of manorial estates.[1]
History of St. Ursen
Époque de Hallstatt. A burial mound is raised at Schürmatt.[1]
1424. The chapel of Saint Ursus is first recorded.[1]
Fin du XVe siècle. The present chapel is built. It is altered later.[1]
1651. The place is called «ex sancto Urso».[1]
1831. The former quarter of Tafers becomes an independent political municipality.[1]
1895. Parts of the municipality belong to the parish of Giffers (Chevrilles) until 1902.[2]
1898. The new church is consecrated.[1]
1901. St. Ursen becomes a parish.[1]
1906. More than 150 early medieval graves are discovered near the village.[1]
1934. The church is enlarged.[1]
1968. Further graves are uncovered at Wolperwil.[1]
Fin du XXe siècle. A new district joins the hamlets of Engertswil and St. Ursen into one centre.[1]
2000. French speakers make up 9 % of the population.[1]
2005. The primary sector still provides 47 % of jobs. Transport is the best represented trade.[1]
Population of St. Ursen
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1811 | 668 |
| 1831 | 751 |
| 1850 | 685 |
| 1900 | 982 |
| 1950 | 1'139 |
| 2000 | 1'162 |
| 2025 | 1'389 |
Historic sites in St. Ursen
Chapel of Saint Ursus. Recorded from 1424, the present chapel dates from the end of the 15th century and was later altered. It gave the village its name.[1]
Parish church. Consecrated in 1898, three years before the parish was created, and enlarged in 1934.[1]
Remains in St. Ursen
Schürmatt burial mound. Burial mound of the Hallstatt period.[1]
Early medieval cemeteries. More than 150 graves were found near the village in 1906, and others at Wolperwil in 1968. A small sanctuary probably stood near the first cemetery.[1]
Tasberg and Hattenberg castles. Castles once stood at Tasberg and Hattenberg, two places in the municipality.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « St. Ursen (FR) » (Peter F. Kopp, version allemande du 06.01.2012)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Giffers » (Jean-François Steiert, version allemande du 08.09.2005)
- 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 St. Ursen
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