Estavayer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Estavayer

Old City of Estavayer-le-Lac

Coat of arms

Estavayer

Location in Switzerland

Estavayer

Location in Canton of Fribourg

Switzerland

Area

• Total

40.13 km² (15.49 sq mi)

Lowest elevation

(Lake Neuchâtel)

429 m (1,407 ft)

Population

(Dec 2020 )

• Total

9,988

• Density

248.89/km² (644.62/sq mi)

Postal code

1470

Surrounded by

Les Montets, Cheyres, Payerne (VD), Gorgier (NE), Lully, Saint-Aubin-Sauges (NE), Sévaz, Vaumarcus (NE), Grandcour (VD), Châbles, Chavannes-le-Chêne (VD)

Estavayer is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Fribourg, right on the southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. Estavayer is found between the cities of Yverdon and Bern. It is also the main town of the Broye district.

This town was formed on January 1, 2017. It was created when several smaller towns joined together. These towns were Bussy, Estavayer-le-Lac, Morens, Murist, Rueyres-les-Prés, Vernay, and Vuissens.

History of Estavayer
- Early Mentions of Towns
- How Vernay Was Formed
Geography of Estavayer
Population of Estavayer
- Historical Population Changes
Important Historic Sites
- National Heritage Sites
- Other Important Areas
Transportation
Images for kids
See also

History of Estavayer

Estavayer is made up of several older communities. Each of these communities has its own long history.

Early Mentions of Towns

Some parts of Estavayer are very old.

Bussy was first written about in the year 1142.
Morens is mentioned in records from 1216.
Murist appears in history books starting in 1228.
Rueyres-les-Prés was first known as "en Ruere" in 1288.

How Vernay Was Formed

The town of Vernay was created more recently. It was formed on January 1, 2006. This happened when three smaller towns merged. These towns were Autavaux, Forel, and Montbrelloz.

Geography of Estavayer

Estavayer covers a large area. As of 2009, its total size is about 40.36 square kilometers (about 15.58 square miles). Its location by Lake Neuchâtel makes it a beautiful place.

Population of Estavayer

The new town of Estavayer has a growing population. As of the latest records, over 9,000 people live here.

Historical Population Changes

Looking back, the population of the different parts of Estavayer has changed over time. For example, the main town of Estavayer-le-Lac has seen its population grow quite a lot. In 1850, it had about 1,323 people. By 2000, this number had grown to 4,437 people. Other smaller towns that are now part of Estavayer also saw their populations change. Some grew, while others stayed about the same or even got a little smaller at different times.

Important Historic Sites

Estavayer has many important old buildings and places. These are called "heritage sites." They are protected because they are very special.

National Heritage Sites

Several places in Estavayer are listed as Swiss national heritage sites. This means they are very important to the country's history and culture.

The De Rivaz Chapel
The Sacré-Coeur Chapel
The famous Chenaux Castle
The Collegiate church of Saint-Laurent
The Convent of the Dominican nuns
The old town walls (fortifications)
The House de la Dîme
The House des Sires d’Estavayer in Estavayer-le-Lac
The Church of Saint-Maurice in Bussy
The Saint-Pierre Church in Murist
The La Molière tower in Murist

Other Important Areas

The entire old town of Estavayer-le-Lac is a protected area. The villages of Bussy and Vuissens are also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This inventory lists places that are important to Swiss heritage.

After the town of Font joined Estavayer-le-Lac in 2012, more sites were added. These include:

An old Gallo-Roman villa at La Vuardaz. This was a Roman-era house.
The whole Font area, which is shared with another town called Châbles.

Transportation

Getting around Estavayer is easy. The town has its own train station, called Estavayer-le-Lac. This station is on the train line that connects Fribourg and Yverdon-les-Bains. You can catch regular trains to both of these cities from Estavayer.