Frenières-sur-Bex
Origin of the name Frenières-sur-Bex
Name origin: not explained by the sources consulted. The hamlet appears as « Frenières » in plans held in the Bex municipal archives dated 1697-1725. The national maps (swisstopo) spell it « Frénières-sur-Bex ». Its inhabitants are called Freniérins and nicknamed « lou Trifan » or « les Triflans », meaning those who eat potatoes, in Vaud patois.
Founding of Frenières-sur-Bex
Frenières is not a municipality: it is one of the eight hamlets of the municipality of Bex, lying between Bex and Les Plans on the Bex-Frenières-Les Plans-Pont de Nant road. The sources consulted say neither when nor by whom it was founded. The hamlet long gave its name to the neighbouring valley: Les Plans-sur-Bex were formerly called Les Plans-de-Frenières, according to old postcards and photographs from the late 19th century.
History of Frenières-sur-Bex
Around 1100. A fortified house, Ergnau, serves as a visual relay between Bex castle (Duin tower) and the forward fortified house of Seguin; its ruins lie on the path from Frenières to Les Monts-sur-Bex (to be cross-checked).
1697-1725. Plans of Frenières are drawn up; they are kept in the Bex municipal archives.
19th century. In the last quarter of the century, photographs by Constant Marmillod and Léon Demole show the Lenoir family « aux Plans de Frenières, au-dessus de Bex ».
2016. The hamlet has 63 inhabitants.
Population of Frenières-sur-Bex
| 2016 | 63 |
Historic sites in Frenières-sur-Bex
Patte-de-l'Ours chalet. The third chalet on entering the hamlet; the paw of the last bear killed in the region was nailed to it.
Remains in Frenières-sur-Bex
Ruins of the Ergnau fortified house. Ruins of a small castle, the Ergnau (or Ergnaud) fortified house, dated to the 12th century or around 1100. It probably served as a visual relay between Bex castle (Duin tower) and the Seguin fortified house on the Avançon d'Anzeindaz. Its exact location relative to the hamlet is to be cross-checked: one source places it on the path from Frenières to Les Monts-sur-Bex, another on a hill near Plan-Saugey.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bex (commune) »
- Le Point Chablais, « Découverte des hameaux de Bex: partie 1 » (2016)
- Wikipédia, « Bex »
- Archives cantonales vaudoises, inventaire Panorama, archives communales de Bex, « Plans. Frenières. » (1697-1725)
- Patrinum (BCU Lausanne), « Les Plans de Frenières (Bex) », photographies de C. Marmillod et L. Demole
- Wikipedia (en), « Ergnaud Castle (Bex, Switzerland) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Frenières-sur-Bex
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