Bioley

Origin of the name Bioley

Name origin: the name appears in 1262, when Wuillierme de Prangins is described as lord of Mont, « Bioley » and Marchissy. The spelling Biolley is also found. None of the sources consulted explains its etymology.

Founding of Bioley

Bioley is not a village: it is a place name (Le Bioley, Bois de Bioley) on the territory of the municipality of Begnins, on the border with Burtigny. None of the sources consulted describes how the castle that stood there was founded, nor mentions a hamlet. The castle, located in the woods above the Serine at about 650 metres above sea level, belonged in the 13th century to the lords of Prangins; it was one of the fortified positions on the heights of La Côte. Taken by Savoy in 1293, it housed a governor responsible for administering justice over the whole lordship of Begnins, and was then abandoned in the 14th century. The sources place the ruins sometimes south-east, sometimes south-west of the village of Burtigny (to be cross-checked).

History of Bioley

1262. First mention: Wuillierme de Prangins is described as lord of Mont, Bioley and Marchissy.

1267. In the division of property, Jean de Prangins, the elder, receives Prangins with Mont-le-Vieux and Bioley.

1293. The Count of Savoy and his brother Louis besiege Nyon, Prangins, Bioley and Mont-le-Vieux.

1294. Pierre Cochet is castellan of Bioley for Louis de Savoie.

Savoyard period. A governor responsible for administering justice over the whole lordship of Begnins is installed in the castle of Bioley.

1314. The castellany of Bioley no longer exists.

1493. The fortress is already in ruins.

1729. A plan of Burtigny still shows all the old walls.

1868. The castle walls are used as a quarry.

1922. A survey of the remains is made.

Historic sites in Bioley

Domaine des Clavelières. Only the castle farm still exists: it is the Domaine des Clavelières.

Remains in Bioley

Ruins of the castle of Bioley. Oval fortress 101 metres long, with a rectangular stone keep of 16 by 22 metres on an artificial mound and a double semi-concentric moat. A few ditches, traces of the keep and the base of the curtain walls remain; another source states that nothing remains (to be cross-checked).

Legends of Bioley

The treasure of Bioley. According to tradition, a treasure is buried beneath the rubble of the castle of Bioley.

Sources

• Commune de Burtigny, « Le Château de Biolley » (d'après Louis Blondel, Châteaux de l'ancien diocèse de Genève, 1978)
• Wikipédia, « Burtigny »
• Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale (ISOS), « Begnins » (2012)
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, Alphabet des communes, « Begnins »
• Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, géoportail fédéral map.geo.admin.ch (noms locaux et limites communales)
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Bioley

• Burtigny (VD)
• Les Serraux (VD)
• Begnins (VD)
• Bassins (VD)
• Luins (VD)