Cotterd

Origin of the name Cotterd

Name origin: the sources consulted give no dated early form of the name. According to the ISOS inventory, Cotterd is said to come from the Gaulish « cotericum », meaning « common meadow located near the house »; the same record mentions a possible influence of the word « costa », referring to a vine-growing slope (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Cotterd

Cotterd is not a municipality: it is a hamlet in the municipality of Vully-les-Lacs (district of Broye-Vully), which belonged to the former municipality of Bellerive until the 2011 merger. The sources consulted name neither a founder nor a date of creation. In the Middle Ages, Cotterd was part of the lordship of Bellerive, which also included most of the villages of Salavaux and Vallamand-Dessous. The hamlet owes its importance to its church, which in the Middle Ages depended on the canons of Saint-Nicolas de Lausanne and which gave its name to the parish, comprising Bellerive and part of Constantine (Salavaux).

History of Cotterd

Middle Ages. Cotterd is part of the lordship of Bellerive; its church depends on the canons of Saint-Nicolas de Lausanne.

1416. First known mention of the sanctuary of Cotterd.

1536. The church is converted to Protestant worship.

1701-1702. The church is remodelled; a stained-glass window bearing the arms of pastor Daniel Marmet dates from this work. From then on, the former parish of Bellerive takes the name of Cotterd.

around 1730. Construction of the church's porch tower.

1752. The parsonage is built to plans drawn up in January by the architect Abraham Burnand, with barn, wine press and granary.

1777. The lordship of Bellerive, to which Cotterd belongs, is sold to Colonel Antoine-Abraham Bonjour.

1785. The 18th-century manor house, owned by the Stürler family since the early 17th century, passes to the Marcuard family.

1825-1864. A renowned girls' boarding school operates in Cotterd.

1845-1864. The parish of Cotterd is an annex of the parish of Montet.

1854. The manor house receives a polygonal projecting wing.

around 1861. Construction of the dairy and cheese factory.

1872. Construction of the municipal school, with a terraced playground overlooking the lake.

1881. A pastor is once again installed in Cotterd.

1914. Restoration work on the church, followed by further work in 1963.

2011. On 1 July, Bellerive (including Cotterd), Chabrey, Constantine, Montmagny, Mur, Vallamand and Villars-le-Grand merge to form the municipality of Vully-les-Lacs.

Historic sites in Cotterd

Church of Cotterd. Former parish church, mentioned from 1416, Protestant since 1536, remodelled in 1701-1702 and given a porch tower around 1730. It keeps a stained-glass window bearing the arms of pastor Daniel Marmet. Its dedication differs according to the sources consulted: Saint Séverin or Saint Vérène (to be cross-checked).

Parsonage of 1752. Parsonage built to plans by the architect Abraham Burnand, with barn, wine press and granary, under a hipped roof.

Manor house. 18th-century residence built in front of an older outbuilding, given a polygonal projecting wing in 1854; owned by the Stürler family, then by the Marcuard family from 1785.

Former school and dairy. The municipal school of 1872, with its terraced playground, and the dairy and cheese factory built around 1861 bear witness to the hamlet's life in the 19th century.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cotterd »
• Inventaire fédéral des sites construits (ISOS), « Cotterd », fiche 4308
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (swisstopo)

Other villages near Cotterd

• Bellerive (VD)
• Vallamand (VD)
• Salavaux (VD)
• Montmagny (VD)
• Constantine (VD)