Chénens

St. Mary's Chapel of Chénens

Chénens (? Freiburg Patois Tsinin / i ) is a municipality in the District de la Sarine ( German: Sarine district) of the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. The former German place name Geiningen is no longer used today.

Geography

Chénens is located on 696 m above sea level. Level, 14 km southwest of the capital of the canton of Fribourg (air line). The village stretches a scenic location on the northern flank of the Glane, on the Molasseplateau of Fribourg Mittelland.

The area of ​​4.0 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the Molassehöhen of Fribourg Mittelland. The southern boundary runs along the Glane, which flows here in a slightly recessed into the plateau valley. From the Glane, the communal land extends northward over the projection Pevauge ( 687 m above sea level. M. ) and the slope of Chénens on the adjacent slightly undulating plateau (La Fin, to 740 m above sea level. M. ). In the west of the municipality spell ranges in the forest of Vigny and to the northwest through the forest height Bois of God ( above 773 m. M. the highest point of Chénens ) into the catchment area of ​​Arbogne. From the municipality surface 1997 9 % came from settlements, 23 % of forest and woody plants and 68 % to agriculture.

To Chénens include the hamlet of Les Essinges ( 725 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau above the village as well as several individual farms. Neighboring communities of La Chénens are Brillaz, Autigny, Villorsonnens and La Folliaz.

Population

With 702 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Chénens one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Fribourg. Of the 93.9 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.8 % and 0.9 % speak Portuguese (as of 2000). The population of Chénens amounted in 1850 to 263 residents in 1900 to 240 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population fluctuated in the range of 310-370 people. Since 1980 (323 inhabitants), a rapid population growth was recorded.

Economy

Chénens was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Even today, the farming, fruit growing, dairy farming and livestock have an important place in the economic structure of the population. More jobs are in small local manufacturing and services available, including in companies of the automobile industry. Chénens is the site of a regional grain store. The water power of the Glane was formerly used for the operation of mills and a sawmill. In recent decades, the village has developed thanks to its attractive location and into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who work mainly in the region of Freiburg.

Traffic

The community is conveniently moderately well developed. It lies on the main road from Freiburg to Romont. The nearest links to the motorway A12 ( Bern- Vevey) is located about 8 km from the town center. On September 4, 1862, the railway line from Freiburg to Lausanne was taken with a station in Chénens in operation.

History

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1138 under the name Cheineis. Later, the spellings Cheinens ( 1143 ), quinine ( 1214) Cheneins ( 1215), Cheineins ( 1244), Cheynens ( 1285), Chieniens ( 1403 ), Zeinin (1577 ) and Chennens (1781 ) published. The German version Geiningen 1449 first documented. The origin of the place name is not clear. Chénens is probably derived from the personal name Skino or C ( h) agan and means with the suffix -ene as much as the people of Skino / Chagan.

Since the 12th century was responsible for the village Chénens reign of the noble family of the same name. In the 13th century it came into the sphere of influence of the Counts of Savoy. The Abbey Fille -Dieu at Romont had land and tithes in the municipality. Chénens was often meeting at contract signing between Freiburg and Savoy concerning disputes and claims to power in the border area.

By buying the village came later than in 1442 under the rule of Freiburg and the Old Landscape ( Neustadtpanner ) has been assigned. After the collapse of the ancien régime (1798 ) was one Chénens during the Helvetic first to the district Romont and from 1803 to the district of Freiburg, before it was incorporated in 1848 with the new cantonal constitution in the Sarine district.

Attractions

Since 1584 Chénens possessed a Marian chapel, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1750. The village belongs to the parish Autigny.

Painted wooden ceiling of the Lady Chapel

Station Chénens

Village center