Villars-sur-Glâne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Villars-sur-Glâne
Pont de la Glâne between Villars-sur-Glâne and Hauterive
Coat of arms
Villars-sur-Glâne Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Villars-sur-Glâne Location in Canton of Fribourg Show map of Canton of Fribourg
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Fribourg
District	Sarine
Area
• Total	5.48 km2 (2.12 sq mi)
Elevation	659 m (2,162 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	12,219
• Density	2,229.7/km2 (5,775/sq mi)
Postal code	1752
Surrounded by	Corminboeuf, Fribourg (Fribourg/Freiburg im Üechtland), Givisiez, Hauterive, Marly, Matran

Villars-sur-Glâne is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Sarine district, which is part of the canton of Fribourg. This town is known for its beautiful landscapes and growing community.

Exploring Villars-sur-Glâne's Geography

Villars-sur-Glâne covers an area of about 5.5 square kilometers (2.1 square miles). A significant part of this land, nearly 30%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 17.5% of the area, providing green spaces.

More than half of the town's land, about 51.5%, is developed with buildings and roads. This shows how much the town has grown. A small part, 1.3%, includes rivers and lakes.

Land Use in Villars-sur-Glâne

Looking closer at the developed areas, about 4.9% are industrial buildings. Homes and other buildings make up 27.7% of the developed land. Roads and other transport areas cover 13.8%.

Parks and sports fields add to the green spaces within the town. All the forested land is covered with dense forests. For farming, about 16.8% of the land is used for growing crops. Another 12.0% is used for pastures where animals graze. All the water in the town is flowing water, like rivers.

Understanding the Town's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Villars-sur-Glâne is quite special. It features a blue background with a silver "saltire." A saltire is a cross shaped like an "X." At the very top of the shield, there is a silver "fleur-de-lis." This is a symbol that looks like a lily flower.

Villars-sur-Glâne's Population and People

Villars-sur-Glâne is home to many people. As of the latest count, the town has a population of 12,219. Over the past ten years, the population has grown by about 22.6%. This growth is partly due to people moving into the town.

Languages Spoken in Villars-sur-Glâne

Most people in Villars-sur-Glâne speak French as their main language. About 77.2% of the population uses French. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 10.9% of residents. Portuguese is the third most common, spoken by 2.3% of the people. A smaller number of people also speak Italian and Romansh.

Who Lives in Villars-sur-Glâne?

In 2008, the population was almost evenly split between men and women. About 49.4% were male, and 50.6% were female. Many people living in Villars-sur-Glâne were born there or in the same canton. About 25.8% of the population was born outside of Switzerland, making the town a diverse place.

Age Groups in the Community

The town has a good mix of age groups. Children and teenagers (ages 0-19) make up about 25.8% of the population. Adults (ages 20-64) are the largest group, at 63.3%. Seniors (over 64 years old) make up 10.9% of the population.

Homes and Households

In 2000, there were 3,644 private homes in Villars-sur-Glâne. On average, about 2.5 people lived in each home. Many homes, 1,089, had only one person living there. About 291 homes had five or more people. Most apartments in the town are lived in all year round.

Population Growth Over Time

The chart below shows how the population of Villars-sur-Glâne has changed over many years. You can see how the number of people living in the town has grown steadily.

Important Heritage Sites of Villars-sur-Glâne

Villars-sur-Glâne has several important historical places. These are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. This means they are very important to the country's history and culture.

These sites include:

• The Farm House De La Campagne De Chollet Au Guintzet
• The Pont (bridge) de la Glâne, which is shared with the nearby town of Hauterive
• The bridge and chapel of Sainte-Apolline, also shared with Hauterive

These places help tell the story of the town's past.

• 

  Farm House Chollot au Guintzet

• 

  Pont de la Glâne2 May 2011

• 

  St. Apolline Bridge and Chapel

Economy and Jobs in Villars-sur-Glâne

In 2010, the unemployment rate in Villars-sur-Glâne was 5.1%. This means that about 5.1% of people looking for work could not find a job. The town has a strong economy with many different types of jobs.

Types of Jobs in the Town

Jobs are divided into three main groups:

• Primary sector: These jobs involve getting raw materials, like farming. In 2008, there were 15 people working in this sector.
• Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things, like in factories or construction. About 2,130 people worked in this sector. Most of these jobs (83.7%) were in manufacturing.
• Tertiary sector: These jobs involve providing services. This is the largest sector, with 5,501 people working in it.

Many people in Villars-sur-Glâne work in service jobs. These include sales, transportation, hotels, and healthcare. For example, over 41% of tertiary jobs were in healthcare.

Commuting to Work

Many people travel to Villars-sur-Glâne for work. In 2000, 4,728 workers came into the town, while 3,504 workers left to work elsewhere. This means more people come into Villars-sur-Glâne for jobs than leave it. About 29.3% of workers used public transport, and 54.5% used a private car to get to work.

Religion in Villars-sur-Glâne

The town has a mix of different religions. According to the 2000 census:

• About 71.0% of the population were Roman Catholic.
• About 7.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
• Smaller numbers of people belonged to other Christian churches, Orthodox churches, or the Christian Catholic Church.
• There were also people who followed Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• About 6.85% of the population did not belong to any church or were agnostic or atheist.

Education Opportunities in Villars-sur-Glâne

Education is important in Villars-sur-Glâne. About 29.9% of the people have finished high school (upper secondary education). Also, 18.3% have gone on to higher education, like university.

The School System in Fribourg

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

• Kindergarten: One year of optional kindergarten.
• Primary School: Six years of primary school, which is required.
• Lower Secondary School: Three years of required lower secondary school. Students are grouped by their abilities.
• Upper Secondary School: After lower secondary, students can choose a three or four-year upper secondary school. This can be a gymnasium (to prepare for university) or a vocational program (to learn a trade).
• Tertiary School: After upper secondary, students can go to a university or continue their apprenticeship.

In the 2010-2011 school year, 1,325 students attended classes in Villars-sur-Glâne. Many students from the town also went to schools in nearby areas.

Transportation in Villars-sur-Glâne

Villars-sur-Glâne has its own railway station. It is on the Lausanne–Bern line. This means people can easily travel by train to nearby towns like Romont FR and Fribourg/Freiburg.

Notable People from Villars-sur-Glâne

Villars-sur-Glâne has been home to some interesting people:

• Massimo Colomba (born 1977 in Villars-sur-Glâne): He was a professional football goalkeeper. He played in over 300 club games.
• Natan Jurkovitz (born 1995): He is a French-Swiss-Israeli basketball player. He plays for Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C. in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
• Marie-Luce Romanens (born 1973): She was a top orienteering competitor and long-distance runner. She now lives in Villars-sur-Glâne and teaches biology and chemistry.

See also

In Spanish: Villars-sur-Glâne para niños