Vuisternens-devant-Romont
Origin of the name Vuisternens-devant-Romont
A Wibertus de Wisternens appears in 1162 in the cartulary of Hautcrêt. The village's old German name is « Winterlingen bei Remund ». The name is said to come from a form « Winterningis », which became « Wisternegus » and then « Wistarnens ».[1][2]
Founding of Vuisternens-devant-Romont
Vuisternens-devant-Romont stretches along the road from Romont to Bulle in two cores, one around the church and the other near the station. From the 13th century the village was the centre of a large parish. Its lords died out in the 15th century, and the lordship passed from family to family until Fribourg bought it in 1625. Long a farming village, Vuisternens has grown as a place to live. Seat of the municipal administration and a secondary centre of the district, the present municipality was created in 2003 by the merger of eight municipalities, joined by La Neirigue in 2004.[1][3]
History of Vuisternens-devant-Romont
1162. Wibertus de Wisternens is named in the cartulary of the abbey of Hautcrêt.[1]
1228. A large parish centred on Vuisternens is attested.[1]
14th century. Part of the lordship is granted in fief to the lords of Oron.[1]
15th-16th centuries. When the lords of Vuisternens die out, the lordship passes to the La Baume, then to the Challant.[1]
1536-1798. The village is part of the Fribourg bailiwick of Romont.[1]
1553. The church of the Nativity is rebuilt.[1]
Around 1580. The church is incorporated into the chapter of Saint-Nicolas in Fribourg.[1][2]
1598. The Maillard become lords of Vuisternens.[1]
1610. The chapel of Mounaz is founded, dedicated first to the Virgin and later to Saint Peter.[1]
1625. Fribourg buys the lordship.[1][3]
1788. The municipality adopts statutes.[1]
1798-1847. Vuisternens belongs to the district of Romont.[3]
1815-1825. The church is rebuilt a second time and consecrated in 1825 by Bishop Yenny.[2]
1868. A halt opens on the Romont-Bulle railway line.[2][4]
1956. The parish takes its present form when La Neirigue moves to the parish of Berlens.[1][4]
Around 1980. Plans for a sports hall for the school district start the first merger talks.[3]
2002. On 8 May the assemblies of eight municipalities approve the merger by more than 70 %. The Grand Council decrees it on 17 September.
2003. Estévenens, La Joux, La Magne, Les Ecasseys, Lieffrens, Sommentier and Villariaz merge with Vuisternens-devant-Romont.
2004. La Neirigue joins the municipality, following a decree of 6 November 2003.
2023. On 1 January the parish of Vuisternens-devant-Romont merges with that of La Joux.
Population of Vuisternens-devant-Romont
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1850 | 314 |
| 1900 | 343 |
| 1950 | 421 |
| 2000 | 537 |
| 2025 | 2'410 |
Historic sites in Vuisternens-devant-Romont
Church of the Nativity. Also dedicated to Saint James in the 17th century, it was rebuilt in 1553 and again from 1815 to 1825, and consecrated in 1825 by Bishop Yenny.[1][3]
Chapel of Mounaz. Dated 1610, it stands near the mill on the Neirigue. A monk of Hauterive is said to have founded it. Dedicated first to the Virgin, it was later rededicated to Saint Peter.[1][2]
Municipal administration. The seat of the municipality of nine villages is in Vuisternens, at Route de Bulle 27.[1][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vuisternens-devant-Romont » (Laurence Margairaz Dewarrat, version du 27.09.2016)
- Commune de Vuisternens-devant-Romont, « Histoire »
- Commune de Vuisternens-devant-Romont, « Commune »
- 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 Vuisternens-devant-Romont
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