Boulens

Origin of the name Boulens

The village is mentioned in 1142 as «Bollens», then in 1177 as «Boslens». The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Boulens

The sources consulted do not say when or by whom the village was founded. In the Middle Ages, Boulens was a property of the Cistercian abbey of Montheron; it is said to have originally been a simple grange (farm estate) of this abbey (to be cross-checked). The lords of Chapelle-Vaudanne (today Chapelle-sur-Moudon) also held certain rights there. At the Reformation, the City of Lausanne inherited the abbey's property and rights of jurisdiction (métralie) in Boulens.

History of Boulens

1142. First mention of the village as «Bollens».

1177. The name appears as «Boslens».

Middle Ages. Boulens is a property of Montheron Abbey; the lords of Chapelle-Vaudanne also hold certain rights there.

14th century. The chapel of Saint Nicholas, a dependency of the parish of Saint-Cierges, is attested (possibly as early as the 12th century).

1536. Bernese conquest and Reformation: the City of Lausanne inherits the property and the métralie of Montheron Abbey in Boulens; the village belongs to the Bernese bailiwick of Moudon until 1798. Communal affairs are managed by the assembly of burghers.

1744. The church is entirely rebuilt.

1764. The village has 141 inhabitants.

1798. End of Bernese rule; Boulens is attached to the district of Moudon, until 2007.

1850. The municipality reaches 247 inhabitants.

1970. The population falls to 134; isolated and poorly served by public transport, Boulens remains a small farming village.

2008. Boulens joins the district of Gros-de-Vaud, created by the new territorial organisation of Vaud.

2025. The municipality has 371 inhabitants on 31 December.

Population of Boulens

Population of Boulens

1764	141
1798	145
1850	247
1900	218
1950	170
1970	134
2000	211
2025	371

Historic sites in Boulens

Boulens church. Former chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, a dependency of the parish of Saint-Cierges, attested in the 14th century, possibly even the 12th century; the present building was entirely rebuilt in 1744.

Remains in Boulens

Former mill on the Oulaire. A mill once operated on the Oulaire stream (to be cross-checked).

Legends of Boulens

The nickname «the Greens». The inhabitants are nicknamed the Greens («lè Vè» in Vaud patois). According to a traditional story, a farmer asked by a dyer whether a piece of cloth should be dyed black answered yes («vâi»), but the dyer understood «vé» (green).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Boulens »
• Wikipédia, « Boulens »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Boulens

• Bercher (VD)
• Saint-Cierges (VD)
• Chapelle-sur-Moudon (VD)
• Naz (VD)
• Rueyres (VD)