Kerzers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kerzers
Kerzers train station
Coat of arms
Kerzers Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Kerzers Location in Canton of Fribourg Show map of Canton of Fribourg
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Fribourg
District	See
Area
• Total	12.28 km2 (4.74 sq mi)
Elevation	450 m (1,480 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	5,037
• Density	410.18/km2 (1,062.4/sq mi)
Postal code	3210
Surrounded by	Fräschels, Golaten (BE), Gurbrü (BE), Kallnach (BE), Münchenwiler (BE), Niederried bei Kallnach (BE), Ried bei Kerzers, Treiten (BE), Wileroltigen (BE)

Kerzers is a town in Switzerland, located in the canton of Fribourg. It's part of the See district. In French, Kerzers is called Chiètres. It's a small but interesting place with a rich history and a unique location.

A Glimpse into Kerzers' Past

Kerzers is quite old! It was first mentioned in official records way back in the year 926. Back then, it was known as Cartris. Later, in 1153, its name changed to Kercers. This shows how long people have lived and built a community here.

An aerial photo of Kerzers from 1949

Kerzers' Natural Surroundings

Kerzers covers an area of about 12.23 square kilometers (4.72 square miles). A large part of this land, almost 68.5%, is used for farming. This means there are many fields where crops are grown. About 14.8% of the area is covered by forests, providing green spaces and homes for wildlife. The town itself, with its buildings and roads, takes up about 15.9% of the land. A small part, less than 1%, includes rivers or lakes. Kerzers is located on the eastern edge of the Grosses Moos wetlands. These wetlands are a special natural area.

Understanding the Kerzers Coat of Arms

Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. It tells a story about the place. Kerzers' coat of arms is blue and shows two lit candles. The German word for candle is Kerze. This is a clever way to link the town's name to its symbol, which is called "canting arms."

Who Lives in Kerzers?

Kerzers is home to over 5,000 people. About 18.9% of the people living here are from other countries. Over the past 10 years (from 2000 to 2010), the number of people living in Kerzers grew by more than 20%. Many new people moved here, and more babies were born than people passed away.

The Papiliorama (Butterfly enclosure) in Kerzers

Most people in Kerzers, about 87%, speak German as their first language. Other languages spoken include Portuguese and Albanian. There are also people who speak French and Italian. In Kerzers, about 27.9% of the population are children and teenagers (under 20 years old). Adults (aged 20 to 64) make up about 60.8%, and seniors (over 64) are about 11.3%. This means Kerzers has a good mix of people of all ages.

Important Historical Buildings

Kerzers has some special buildings that are considered important for the country's history. One of these is the Stellwerk, which is a signal house at the train station. It's listed as a national heritage site. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected. The whole village of Kerzers is also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

How People Work in Kerzers

In 2010, the unemployment rate in Kerzers was low, at 2.1%. This means most people who wanted to work had jobs. People in Kerzers work in different types of jobs:

• Primary Sector: This includes jobs related to farming and growing crops. About 183 people work in this area.
• Secondary Sector: These jobs involve making things, like in factories or construction. About 358 people work here.
• Tertiary Sector: This is the largest group, with 1,384 people. These jobs involve services, like working in shops, restaurants, schools, or healthcare.

Many people who live in Kerzers also travel to other towns for work. About 21% use public transport, like trains or buses, and about 50.8% drive their own cars.

Religious Life in Kerzers

Kerzers is home to people of different faiths. According to a 2000 survey, most people, about 66.3%, belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. About 16.1% are Roman Catholic. There are also smaller groups of people who are Orthodox Christian, other Christian faiths, and Islamic. Some people also identify as Buddhist or Hindu. A small number of people do not belong to any church.

Learning and Schools in Kerzers

Education is important in Kerzers. Many people have completed higher education. The school system in Fribourg Canton, where Kerzers is located, starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. Then, students attend six years of Primary school. After that, there are three years of lower Secondary school. After lower Secondary, students can choose to go to an upper Secondary school for three or four years. These schools can prepare them for university or for a specific job (vocational programs). In the 2010-2011 school year, there were 735 students in Kerzers' schools. This included 97 kindergarten students and 298 primary school students. There were also 295 students in lower secondary classes. Some students from Kerzers went to schools in other towns for upper secondary or specialized programs.

Getting Around: Transportation in Kerzers

Kerzers has two train stations: Kerzers and Kerzers Papiliorama. The main Kerzers station is a busy hub. It connects to major cities like Bern, Neuchâtel, Lausanne, Payerne, and Lyss. The Kerzers Papiliorama station is special because it provides direct access to the famous butterfly sanctuary, which is a popular attraction. This makes it easy for visitors to reach the Papiliorama by train.

Images for kids

• 

  The Stellwerk (signal house) at the train station in Kerzers.

See also

In Spanish: Kerzers para niños