Old Castle (Vuippens)

The House of Sorens, the second castle of Vuippens, dating from the 13th century, was the manorial residence entrusted with the administration of property on behalf of the lord. It later became the castle of the younger branch of the Lords of Vuippens until the lordship was purchased by the city of Fribourg in 1578. It was resold in the 17th century to Pierre-François von Boccard, the bailiff of Vuippens from 1650 to 1655. The coats of arms of this family with the date 1666 are visible on the castle gate. The estate remained the property of the Boccard family for two centuries until it was bought by the Romanens family, who bequeathed it by inheritance to the Villoz family. The name "House of Sorens" certainly comes from the fact that its owner possessed important territories in Sorens. The castle was rebuilt after the fire of 1349, caused by the "War of Everdes". The current building shows the characteristics of 16th-century manors, the period in which it was certainly renovated. The chapel still stands within the castle.