Country Switzerland Elevation 780 m Population 4,272 (Dec 31, 2008) Area 10.89 km2 | District Glane Mayor Syndic | |
Romont is a municipality and capital of the district of Glane in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Contents
- Map of Romont
- Ocf zisman flashmob fribourg rue de romont societe des concerts de fribourg 31 05 2014
- History
- Geography
- Economy
- References
Map of Romont
Ocf zisman flashmob fribourg rue de romont societe des concerts de fribourg 31 05 2014
History
Romont is first mentioned in 1177 as in Rotundo Monte. In 1244 it was mentioned as Romont. The municipality was formerly known by its German name Remund, however, that name is no longer used.
The oldest trace of human settlement in Romont is five Hallstatt era tumuli in the village of Bossens. The ruins of several other prehistoric settlements have been discovered including the foundation of a Roman era building at Bochanat.
The alleged founding on Romont in 921 by the Burgundian King Rudolph II is likely a legend. A document from 1177 from the Abbey of Hauterive mentions the Romont as a wooded hill. In 1239 Anselme (or Nantelme) sold the rights to Romont hill to Peter II of Savoy. At that time, Romont was part of the territory of the Bishop of Lausanne. In 1240 Peter II sent a castellan to Romont to build a castle and found a village. A few years later, the Peace of Evian in 1244, confirmed the Savoy rights to Romont. The main castle (Grand Donjon), with a typical Savoy square floor plan, was completed before 1260. The original castle partially collapsed in 1579 and was rebuilt by Fribourg in 1591. Another castle with a round tower, formerly known as the Petit Donjon, but now known as Boyer-tower was built around 1250-1260, most likely by Peter II. The towns ring wall had three gate towers which faced toward Billens, Mezieres, and Fribourg. The walls were demolished in 1842-1854. Between 1843 and 1865, five fires destroyed the gothic center of town, which was replaced with more modern buildings.
Romont was one of the most important cities in the Vaud region. At the end of the 13th Century, its population numbered more than 1,000 and before the Burgundian Wars (1474) it housed nearly 1,500 residents. It was the center of the a bailiwick and an important link between Fribourg and the Savoy possessions in the Lake Geneva. Presumably around 1285-1293, but certainly no later than 1328, it was granted town rights modeled after the rights of Moudon.
During the Burgundian Wars, Bern and Fribourg looted and burned the city twice. Romont remained loyal to its Savoy rulers until the 1536 Bernese conquest of Vaud. During the conquest by the Protestant Bernese troops, Romont was able to ally with Catholic Fribourg and retain the traditional faith.
It was capital of the bailiwick of Romont until 1798, and until 1803 the capital of the same district. During the Stecklikrieg in 1802, Romont continued to support the Helvetic Republic. Between 1803-48 it was the capital of the Romont prefecture, then it became the capital of the district of Glane.
Geography
Romont has an area, as of 2009, of 10.9 square kilometers (4.2 sq mi). Of this area, 7.32 km2 (2.83 sq mi) or 67.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 1.48 km2 (0.57 sq mi) or 13.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2.07 km2 (0.80 sq mi) or 19.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.03 km2 (7.4 acres) or 0.3% is either rivers or lakes.
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 4.4% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 6.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 6.1%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.6% of the area Out of the forested land, 12.2% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 37.9% is used for growing crops and 28.2% is pastures, while 1.1% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.
The municipality is the capital of the Glane district. It is located at the intersection of the roads to Fribourg, Lausanne and Bulle and is on the border with the Canton of Vaud.
Economy
As of 2010, Romont had an unemployment rate of 5.7%. As of 2008, there were 100 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 34 businesses involved in this sector. 1,109 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 60 businesses in this sector. 1,714 people were employed in the tertiary sector, with 230 businesses in this sector.