Chavornay
Origin of the name Chavornay
First mentions: «Cavorniacum» in 927, «Chavornai» in 1228; «Cavornacum» is also found in 1173 and «Chavornex» in 1705 (to be cross-checked). The name probably comes from the Latin personal name «Capronius» and the Celtic suffix «-acum», which denotes a place (to be cross-checked). In Vaud patois it is pronounced «Tsavornaï».
Founding of Chavornay
The village lies on the edge of the Orbe plain, on the right bank of the Talent. The site was occupied in Roman times: settlements and coins at the Barraud marl pit, remains of the Entreroches-Yverdon road and a milestone bearing the names of Septimius Severus and Marcus Aurelius. An earlier occupation in the Bronze Age is mentioned (to be cross-checked). None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village. In the 9th century Chavornay became the property of the kings of Burgundy; in 927 King Rudolph II confirmed there the election of Libo as bishop of Lausanne. The Church of Lausanne took possession of it in the 11th century, and the house of Savoy also established itself there. Under Bernese rule Chavornay formed a castellany with a court of justice within the bailiwick of Yverdon. Since 1 January 2017 the municipality has also included Corcelles-sur-Chavornay and Essert-Pittet, which have their own entry. The inhabitants, the Chavornaysans, are nicknamed «the Crows», in memory of the birds that flew over the ponds at the time of the tile works, or the «Enterre-Taupes».
History of Chavornay
Bronze Age. The site is said to have hosted a marsh settlement on a platform of tree trunks (to be cross-checked).
Roman period. Settlements and coins at the Barraud marl pit; route of the Entreroches-Yverdon road, marked by a milestone bearing the names of Septimius Severus and Marcus Aurelius.
9th century. Chavornay becomes the property of the kings of Burgundy.
867. The Carolingian king Lothair is said to have given Chavornay to his wife Theutberga (to be cross-checked).
927. First mention, «Cavorniacum»: King Rudolph II confirms there the election of Libo as bishop of Lausanne.
11th century. The Church of Lausanne takes possession of Chavornay.
12th century. The parish church of Saint-Marcel is attested.
1228. Mention of «Chavornai» and of the hospital of Saint-Théobald, dependent on the commandery of La Chaux.
1397. The bishop of Lausanne collects the tithe and the chapter holds the patronage of the church of Saint-Marcel.
1414. The village has 64 hearths.
15th century. The Gothic choir of the church of Saint-Marcel is built.
1536. Bernese conquest: Chavornay forms a castellany with a court of justice within the bailiwick of Yverdon; its franchises are abolished by the Bernese commissioners (to be cross-checked). The Reformed parish includes the annex of Bavois.
1648. The church of Saint-Marcel is altered.
1798. Chavornay is part of the district of Orbe.
1855. Opening of the Morges-Yverdon railway line.
1870. Start of the drainage of the plain, which leads to land consolidations (1941-1950) and favours market gardening.
1894. Opening of the Orbe-Chavornay railway line.
1904-1966. The Barraud brickworks is in operation.
1934. Essert-Pittet becomes an annex of the parish.
1977. A free port opens.
1981. Opening of the A1 motorway and adoption of a zoning plan.
1983. The printing ink manufacturers Sicpa and Fidink set up in Chavornay.
1989. Opening of the A9b motorway.
2008. The new Vaud districts come into force: Chavornay becomes part of the Jura-Nord vaudois district.
2017. On 1 January, merger with Corcelles-sur-Chavornay and Essert-Pittet, approved by the inhabitants in September 2015.
Population of Chavornay
| 1414 | 64 hearths (households) |
| 1699 | 361 |
| 1764 | 639 |
| 1850 | 805 |
| 1900 | 789 |
| 1910 | 1'056 |
| 1950 | 1'383 |
| 2000 | 2'785 |
| 2025 | 5'374 (merged municipality) |
Historic sites in Chavornay
Church of Saint-Marcel. Parish church attested from the 12th century, with a 15th-century Gothic choir, altered in 1648 and listed as a historic monument; one source says it was rebuilt around 1400 (to be cross-checked).
Maison bernoise. 16th-century building on the Grand'Rue, typical of the architecture of the Bernese period (to be cross-checked).
Remains in Chavornay
Roman remains. Settlements and coins discovered at the Barraud marl pit, remains of the Entreroches-Yverdon road and a milestone bearing the names of the emperors Septimius Severus and Marcus Aurelius.
Hospital of Saint-Théobald. Medieval hospital mentioned in 1228, which depended on the commandery of La Chaux.
Asphalt mine. Former asphalt mine, a witness to pre-industrial activity.
Canal d'Entreroches. Traces of the Canal d'Entreroches, a work of the pre-industrial period, survive on the municipal territory.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chavornay »
- Wikipédia, « Chavornay (Vaud) »
- Wikipedia (en), « Chavornay, Switzerland »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Chavornay »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Chavornay
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change