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Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Coat of arms of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Coat of arms
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens is located in Switzerland
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Location in Switzerland
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens is located in Canton of Fribourg
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
Location in Canton of Fribourg
Country Switzerland
Canton Fribourg
District Gruyère
Area
 • Total 2.03 km2 (0.78 sq mi)
Elevation
908 m (2,979 ft)
Population
 (Dec 2020 )
 • Total 317
 • Density 156.2/km2 (404.4/sq mi)
Postal code
1653
Surrounded by Botterens, Broc, Crésuz, Villarbeney, Val-de-Charmey

Châtel-sur-Montsalvens is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Gruyère district. It is part of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. The town's name is pronounced "sha-TEL syoor mon-sal-VANSS".

History of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens

Châtel-sur-Montsalvens was first mentioned in official records way back in 1388. Back then, it was known as Chastel propre Montservens. This means it has a long and interesting past!

Geography of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens

Alpage près de Châtel-sur-Montsalvens
A farm house in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens

Châtel-sur-Montsalvens covers an area of about 2 square kilometers (which is about 0.77 square miles). This is roughly the size of 200 football fields!

Most of the land is used for nature and farming. About 46% of the area is used for agriculture, like growing crops or raising animals. Another 41.7% is covered by beautiful forests.

A smaller part, about 7.8%, has buildings and roads. This includes homes and places where people work. There are also some small areas with rivers or lakes, making up about 2.5% of the land.

The town is nestled in the Gruyère district, known for its lovely landscapes.

Châtel-sur-Montsalvens Coat of Arms

A coat of arms is like a special symbol or logo for a town or family. The coat of arms for Châtel-sur-Montsalvens has a unique design.

It shows a silver wall with a crane bird walking on it. Above the wall, there's a golden five-pointed star. The background color is red. This design tells a story about the town's history and character.

Population and People

Châtel-sur-Montsalvens has a population of around 260 people (as of 2023). In recent years, the number of people living here has grown quite a bit. Between 2000 and 2010, the population increased by about 34%. This growth happened because more people moved into the town than left it.

Most people in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens speak French as their main language. About 83% of the residents speak French. Some people also speak German (around 9%) and English (about 3%).

The population is pretty balanced between males and females. About 51% are male and 49% are female. Many people who live here were also born in the canton of Fribourg.

Young people, aged 0 to 19, make up about 23% of the population. Adults, aged 20 to 64, are the largest group, making up 62%. Seniors, over 64, make up about 14.6%.

Most households in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens have about 2 to 3 people living in them. There are also some single-person households and a few larger families.

Important Landmarks

Lac Montsalvens
Montsalvens Dam

One very important landmark near Châtel-sur-Montsalvens is the Montsalvens Dam. This dam is shared with the nearby town of Broc. It's considered a very important heritage site in Switzerland. Dams are huge structures that hold back water, often to create electricity or to control water flow.

Economy and Jobs

The economy of Châtel-sur-Montsalvens is quite small, with a low unemployment rate of 1.7% in 2010. This means most people who want to work can find a job.

Jobs in the town are divided into three main types:

  • Primary Sector: This includes jobs related to agriculture, like farming. In 2008, there were 7 people working in this area.
  • Secondary Sector: This involves jobs in manufacturing (making things) and construction. About 5 people worked in this sector.
  • Tertiary Sector: This covers service jobs, like working in hotels or restaurants. Around 8 people worked in this sector.

Many people who live in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens actually travel to other towns for work. In 2000, about 88 people commuted out of the town for their jobs. Most people (72%) use a private car to get to work, while some (11.5%) use public transportation.

Religion in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens

Based on information from 2000, most people in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens are Roman Catholic, making up about 66% of the population. About 10% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.

There are also smaller groups who follow other Christian churches, Islam, or Judaism. Some people (about 15.6%) do not belong to any church or have no specific religious beliefs.

Education and Schools

In Châtel-sur-Montsalvens, many adults have completed a good level of education. About 38% of the population has finished upper secondary education, which is like high school. Also, about 12% have gone on to higher education, like university.

The school system in the Canton of Fribourg works like this:

  • First, there's one year of optional Kindergarten.
  • Then, students go to six years of Primary school.
  • After that, they attend three years of mandatory Secondary school, where they are grouped based on their abilities.
  • Finally, students can choose to go to an optional three or four-year upper secondary school. This can prepare them for university or for a specific job through vocational programs and apprenticeships.

While there weren't any students attending school directly in Châtel-sur-Montsalvens during the 2010-2011 school year, many students from the town attended schools in nearby municipalities.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Châtel-sur-Montsalvens para niños

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