Cugy Castle

At the beginning of the 12th century, the territory of Cugy became the property of the Lord of Estavayer, whose branch adopted the name of Lords of "Cuzei". From 1142 to 1230, the territory of "Cuzei" belonged to the Cistercian Abbey of Montheron or Thélà near Lausanne. These religious brothers therefore settled in Cugy to cultivate the land. But their situation deteriorated more and more, and in 1230 the monks sold "the barn of Cugié" to the House of Hauterive for 5000 Lausanne sols.

From 1329, Conon, the co-ruler of Estavayer, granted his nephew, Wilhelm von Montagny, the sovereign rights over the majority or the district of Cugy-Vesin. Thus, Cugy came under the suzerainty of the Barons of Montagny.

After the extinction of this dynasty from 1536, Cugy came under the administration of the Fribourgers, who incorporated it into the bailiwick of Estavayer. Consequently, the lords or bailiffs exercised the delegated authority of Fribourg. Six families succeeded each other: in chronological order, those of Wilhelm von Avenches, von Glâne, the Bonstettens, the Féguelys, the Lanthen-Heids, and finally the Reyffs.

The lordships of this last family owned two castles in Cugy that still exist: "the Courthouse", now private property, which at the end of the 18th century housed a college under the direction of its founder, Father Nicolas Lhoste (1767-1849). He was a religious expelled from the Abbey of Bellelay. The other "castle" was sold to the municipality of Cugy in 1851 and currently houses the primary school.