Villarlod
Origin of the name Villarlod
Recorded in 1231 in the form « Vilar Aloz », the name Villarlod remains unexplained.[1]
Founding of Villarlod
Villarlod lies on the north-western slope of the Gibloux. The village is linked to the lordship of Pont, and the abbey of Hauterive inherited many properties and rights here from medieval lords, among them Peter II of Gruyère and Petrus de Chenens. Until 1910 it belonged to the parish of Estavayer-le-Gibloux. Fodder crops, livestock and molasse supported its inhabitants. Villarlod is today in the municipality of Gibloux (merger of 2016).[1][2]
History of Villarlod
1289. In February a holding in Villarlod is given to the abbey of Hauterive.[2]
1290. On 22 May the counts of Gruyère give up their rights over a holding in favour of the Hauterive monastery.[2]
1291. William I of Billens cedes properties in Villarlod to the knight Nicolas d'Englisberg.[1]
1458. After an agreement with the Bugniet family, Abbot Jean Gribolet grants the mill to Antoine Michel on a perpetual lease.[2]
1482. Villarlod becomes part of the Fribourg bailiwick of Pont-Farvagny.[1]
1509. Guillaume Musard and Claude de Courtilles recognise Fribourg's sovereignty over their dependants in Rueyres and Villarlod.[2]
Around 1570. Antoine Alex buys the co-lordship of Pont and becomes lord of Villarsel and Villarlod.[2]
1645. The village representatives build the chapel of Saint-Michel.[1][2]
1765. The Croix du Sault is raised above the village.[1]
1798. The municipality is attached to the district of Romont.[1]
1803-1848. Villarlod belongs to the district of Farvagny.[1][2]
1809. On 5 May the Small Council approves the municipality's statutes.[2]
1880s. Work begins in the molasse quarry.[1]
1910. On 24 December Villarlod separates from Estavayer-le-Gibloux and becomes a parish.[1][2]
1913. The parish church is consecrated.[1]
1940-1945. Some fifty Polish internees are employed in farming or in draining the marshes.[1][2]
1982. A small fortification is uncovered.[1]
2003. Villarlod forms the municipality of Le Glèbe with Estavayer-le-Gibloux, Rueyres-Saint-Laurent and Villarsel-le-Gibloux, following a decree of 14 November 2002.[1][3]
2016. Le Glèbe joins the new municipality of Gibloux.[1]
Population of Villarlod
Sources and references: [1]
| 1811 | 117 |
| 1850 | 152 |
| 1900 | 225 |
| 1950 | 183 |
| 2000 | 256 |
Historic sites in Villarlod
Parish church. Built after the parish was created in 1910, to plans by the architect Spielmann, and consecrated in 1913, it is made, like the presbytery, of molasse from the Villarlod quarry.[1][2]
Chapel of Saint-Michel. Built in 1645 by the representatives of Villarlod in honour of the Archangel Michael, on the site of the mission cross.[1][2]
Croix du Sault. Raised in 1765 above the village and rebuilt after 1954, it is a place of pilgrimage.[1]
Polish memorials. A monument with the Polish eagle stands in front of the church, and an eagle is carved into a molasse face near Le Glèbe.[2]
Molasse quarry. Worked since the 1880s, today by Villarlod SA.[1]
Remains in Villarlod
Fortification. A small fortification of unknown date was discovered in 1982.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villarlod » (Marianne Rolle, version du 26.09.2016)
- Commune de Gibloux, « Le Glèbe » (histoire de Villarsel-le-Gibloux et de Villarlod)
- État de Fribourg, Recueil systématique (RSF 141.1.2), « Liste chronologique des fusions, divisions et changements de nom des communes »
Other villages near Villarlod
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