Bursinel

Origin of the name Bursinel

The place appears in 1139 as «Brucines». None of the sources consulted explains the origin of the name.

Founding of Bursinel

None of the sources consulted says who founded the village or why. Bursinel is recorded in 1139, the year in which its chapel of Saint-Hilaire is also mentioned as a daughter church of Bursins, in the diocese of Geneva. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the lordship of Mont-le-Vieux. It grew as a street village on a gentle rise facing Lake Geneva, in a wine-growing and farming area.

History of Bursinel

1139. First mention of the place as «Brucines»; the chapel of Saint-Hilaire, a daughter church of Bursins (diocese of Geneva), is recorded.

1143. Date given for the castle (to be cross-checked).

early 13th century. The chapel becomes a parish church.

1244. Pierre de Bursinel gives land to the Charterhouse of Oujon.

1536. The parish adopts the Reformation.

16th century. The lordship of Bursinel passes to the de Sacconay family; major additions to the castle. Under Bernese rule the village belongs to the bailiwick of Morges.

1745. The last descendant of the Sacconay buys the high, middle and low jurisdiction from the Baroness of Rolle.

18th century. Further major additions to the castle.

1791. The lordship passes by marriage to the de Watteville family.

19th century. The parish is attached several times, successively, to those of Bursins and Rolle.

1922. Major land improvement works carried out with the municipality of Dully; the water supply and hydrants encourage mechanised vine growing.

20th century. Bursinel belongs to the parish of Rolle.

2008. Bursinel, until then in the district of Rolle, becomes part of the new district of Nyon, created by the 2006 territorial reorganisation.

Population of Bursinel

Population of Bursinel

1764	87
1798	143
1850	187
1860	166
1900	199
1950	219
1980	164
1990	271
2000	342
2025	535

Historic sites in Bursinel

Bursinel Castle. Castle enlarged with major additions in the 16th and 18th centuries (origin date given: 1143, to be cross-checked). It was the seat of the lordship held by the Sacconay from the 16th century, then by the Watteville from 1791.

Former church of Saint-Hilaire. Chapel recorded in 1139 as a daughter church of Bursins, which became a parish church in the early 13th century and adopted the Reformation in 1536.

Street village and vineyards. The street village, on a gentle rise facing Lake Geneva, keeps its wine-growing and farming layout while becoming increasingly residential.

Sources

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

Other villages near Bursinel

• Le Vernay (VD)
• Dully (VD)
• Bursins (VD)
• Gilly (VD)
• Vinzel (VD)