Chardonne
Origin of the name Chardonne
The place is mentioned in 1001 as « Cardona »; « Rodulfus de Chardona » also appears in 1142. Two explanations are proposed: a feminine adjective « cardona » derived from the Latin personal name Cardo, or a Gaulish name meaning « estate of Cardonos ». In Vaud patois the village is called « Tsèrdena ».
Founding of Chardonne
The area was inhabited long before the Middle Ages: Neolithic remains, a Bronze Age necropolis and an early medieval grave have been found here. At the beginning of the 11th century Chardonne appears as a possession of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, which kept it until 1079; the village was then incorporated into the great parish of Corsier, a land of the bishopric of Lausanne. It later became a fief of the Blonay family. Before the municipality was created, Chardonne had a local council of six members and provided five of the twelve councillors of the general commune of Corsier. None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village.
History of Chardonne
Prehistory. Neolithic remains and Bronze Age necropolis on the municipal territory.
Early Middle Ages. A grave from this period attests to the occupation of the site.
1001. First known mention as « Cardona ».
1079. End of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice's possession; Chardonne is incorporated into the great parish of Corsier, a land of the bishopric of Lausanne.
around 1140. A convent of Premonstratensian nuns is mentioned shortly before 1140 in the hamlet of Rueyres.
1142. Mention of a « Rodulfus de Chardona ».
1193-1210. The Rueyres convent of nuns is replaced by a male community.
1226. Chardonne, now a fief of the Blonay family, has part of its territory enfeoffed to the Abbey of Hautcrêt.
1284. Another part is enfeoffed to the lords of Oron.
1419. First mention of the chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
1536-1798. Under Bernese rule Chardonne belongs to the bailiwick of Lausanne; the parish of Corsier, on which its chapel depends, adopts the Reformation in 1536.
1671. Enlargement of the chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
1706-1707. For civil cases Chardonne henceforth falls under the bailiwick of Oron.
1746. Further enlargement of the chapel.
1798. Creation of the political municipality, attached to the district of Vevey.
1816. Division of the property of the general commune of Corsier.
1833. Decree of the Grand Council of 19 December dividing the former political parish of Corsier into four independent municipalities (to be cross-checked).
1864. Chardonne ceases to be an annex of Corsier and becomes a parish.
1900. Opening of the Vevey-Mont-Pèlerin funicular; the municipality opens a few hotels in the 20th century.
1986. Twinning with Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire (Charente), birthplace of the writer Jacques Chardonne.
2008. New district boundaries come into force: Chardonne belongs to the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut.
Population of Chardonne
| 1764 | 561 |
| 1798 | 693 |
| 1850 | 998 |
| 1900 | 1'011 |
| 1950 | 1'154 |
| 2000 | 2'601 |
| 2025 | 3'384 |
Historic sites in Chardonne
Church (former chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste). Chapel mentioned from 1419, enlarged in 1671 and 1746. An annex of the parish of Corsier, which became Reformed in 1536, it remained so until 1864 before becoming a parish church. The church has a stone bell tower.
Hamlet of Rueyres. A convent of Premonstratensian nuns is mentioned here shortly before 1140; it was replaced between 1193 and 1210 by a male community.
Mont-Pèlerin and funicular. The municipality stretches from Lake Geneva up to Mont-Pèlerin, a locality that is part of Chardonne. The Vevey-Mont-Pèlerin funicular, opened in 1900, accompanied the opening of a few hotels in the 20th century.
Vineyards. An agricultural and wine-growing municipality, Chardonne still had 13% of its jobs in this sector in 2000.
Remains in Chardonne
Prehistoric and medieval remains. The municipal territory has yielded Neolithic remains, a Bronze Age necropolis and an early medieval grave.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chardonne »
- Wikipédia, « Chardonne »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- geo.admin.ch, Répertoire des localités (swisstopo)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Chardonne
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