Mézières, Fribourg

Received view of Mézères, Villaz -Saint -Pierre from

Mézières ( Freiburg Patois Méjire? / I ) is a municipality in the district of the canton of Fribourg Glane in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2004, the previously separate municipality Berlens also part of Mézières.

Geography

Mézières is located at 760 m above sea level. M., 2 km south-southeast of the district main town Romont (air line). The farming village extends a scenic location on the western slope of the ridge between the Glane and the Neirigue, the plane of the Glane south of Romont, in the higher Fribourg plateau.

The area of ​​9.2 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the Molassehügellandes in Fribourg plateau. In the West, up to 1 km wide valley belongs to the headwaters of the Glane to Mézières. From here, the communal land extends eastward across the slope of Mézières on the broad ridge between the valleys of Glane and Neirigue. This is back in the comb area partly wooded and reached on Les Brévires with 851 m above sea. M. the highest point of Mézières south is the champ Montanney (840 m above sea level. M. ), north of the height of La Croix ( 841 m above sea level. M. ). To the northeast territory extends above the height of Berlens up to the stream of Neirigue and hallway Fin du Muay. From the municipality surface 1997 6 % came from settlements, 13 % of forest and woody plants and 81 % to agriculture.

At Mézières include the village Berlens (810 m above sea level. M. ) on the Northern Slope of the ridge and some Hofsiedlungen and individual farms. Neighboring communities of Mézières are Romont, Villaz -Saint -Pierre, Massonnens, Vuisternens -devant -Romont and Siviriez.

Population

With 1,000 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) Mézières one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Fribourg. Of the 94.8 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 1.9 % and 1.5 % speak German portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Mézières in 1850 amounted to 453 inhabitants, 1900 to 577 inhabitants (including Berlens ). During the 20th century, the population fluctuated 550-620 people. Only since 1980 (586 inhabitants) a significant population growth was recorded.

Economy

Mézières was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Even today, the dairy industry, animal husbandry and agriculture have an important place in the economic structure of the population. More jobs are in the local small businesses ( including at a sawmill ) and services available. 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 regions Romont and Freiburg.

Traffic

The community is conveniently technically quite well developed. It lies on the main road from Romont to Bulle. On 1 July 1868, the railway line from Romont was taken to Bulle in operation; the stop Mézières but was now closed. By bus Transports Publics Fribourgeois that run from Romont after Palézieux -Gare or Romont to Bulle, Mézières is connected to the public transport network.

History

The territory of Mézières was settled very early, which was confirmed by the remains of a Roman estate. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1161 under the name Maseres. Later, the names de Maseriis ( 1179 ), Masieres (still in the 12th century), Maiseres ( 1228 ), Masseres appeared Maissiere ( 1251 ) and Mexieres ( 1453). The place name comes from the Latin word maceriae, from which developed the Old French maisière. Both words have the meaning of wall, especially of ruined walls, and therefore denote the ruins of a building.

Since the end of the 14th century Mézières formed a separate dominion, but the castle was Romont dependent and was under the protection of the House of Savoy. The rule came in 1756 after numerous changes of ownership in the possession of this family of Bach Freiburg. Berlens was also its own little rule.

When the Bernese 1536 Vaud conquered the villages came under the rule of Freiburg and the Bailiwick Romont were allocated. After the collapse of the ancien régime (1798 ) were among Mézières and Berlens during the Helvetic Republic and the subsequent time to the district Romont and were incorporated in 1848 in the District Glane. Effective on January 1, 2004 Berlens was incorporated into Mézières. With this merger, the new total municipality received a new coat of arms.

Attractions

The parish Mézières first mentioned in 1228. Today's modern parish church Saint- Pierre -aux -Liens was built in the years 1937 until 1939. Next to the church stands the castle, which dates back to the 12th century. After it came into the possession of this Bach family, it was completely transformed in the second half of the 18th century. The rectangular building has a polygonal stair tower and over the portal the crest of this Bach family; the interiors are equipped with various precious tapestries from the 18th century.