Chenaux

Origin of the name Chenaux

Name origin: not explained by the sources consulted; they give no dated early form.

Founding of Chenaux

Chenaux is not a municipality: it is a hamlet of the municipality of Bourg-en-Lavaux, in the district of Lavaux-Oron, which belonged until 2011 to the municipality of Cully. No founding act is known. The hamlet lies in the vineyards at about 530 m above sea level, on a ridge above Cully; it is one of the villages of Lavaux set halfway up the slope on a slight ledge. In the Middle Ages Chenaux was part of the large parish of Villette and was governed from the 14th century by its own confrérie. Under the Ancien Régime it formed one of the quarters of the general municipality of Villette, before being joined to the municipality of Cully in 1824.

History of Chenaux

14th century. A communal structure takes shape in the large parish of Villette: Chenaux is governed, like Aran, Cully, Curson, Epesses, Grandvaux, Riex and Villette, by a confrérie, a corporation first religious then civil, which deals in particular with the school, poor relief and paths.

1444. Under a settlement, Chenaux contributes with other neighbouring localities (Epesses, Riex, Grandvaux, Villette, Aran) one fifth of the upkeep costs of the fortifications of Cully.

1536-1798. Under the Bernese Ancien Régime, Chenaux forms one of the four quarters « de delà » of the general municipality of Villette, with Aran, Curson and Grandvaux.

1702. On 15 March, the town of Cully exchanges with André Portaz a vineyard « En Plan Perey » for a vineyard at Chenaux.

1824. The large parish of Villette is divided into six municipalities; Chenaux is joined to the municipality of Cully (confréries of Cully and Chenaux). The division, which obliges Cully to distribute part of its wealth to Chenaux, meets strong local opposition and leaves lasting resentment.

1837. The hamlet of Chenaux is joined to the parish of Cully.

2011. Cully, and with it Chenaux, merges with Epesses, Grandvaux, Riex and Villette to form the municipality of Bourg-en-Lavaux.

Historic sites in Chenaux

Hamlet of Chenaux. Wine-growing hamlet at about 530 m above sea level, on a ridge in the vineyards above Cully; it is one of the villages of Lavaux set halfway up the slope, between 400 and 500 m, on slight ledges.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Germain Hausmann, « Villette (Lavaux) », version du 06.01.2017
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Germain Hausmann, « Cully », version du 04.05.2017
• Inventaire fédéral des sites construits à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Cully, commune de Bourg-en-Lavaux » (relevé 2012)
• Archives cantonales vaudoises, « Échange entre la Ville de Cully et André Portaz, qui donne une vigne à En Plan Perey contre une vigne à Chenaux », 15 mars 1702
• Wikipédia (en), « Cully, Switzerland »
• Denyse Raymond, « Lecture du paysage, typologie de l'habitat », Association Lavaux Patrimoine mondial
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Chenaux

• Riex (VD)
• Cully (VD)
• Grandvaux (VD)
• Épesses (VD)
• Villette (VD)