Fiez

Origin of the name Fiez

First mentioned in 885 as «Figiaco» (also cited as «Fiaco»), then «Fyx» in 1179, «Fie» in 1228 and «Fiez» from 1453. The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Fiez

The territory of Fiez was already occupied in Roman times: remains of a Roman villa have been found there, with a small lion sculpture, millstones, tile fragments and small columns. In the 9th century Fiez was a royal estate; it then passed to the Bishop of Lausanne, then to the lordship of Grandson, before being donated to the priory of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Grandson, which kept it until the Reformation. No source consulted names a founder of the medieval village. Located at the foot of the Jura, on the right bank of the Arnon, Fiez also owns an enclave north of the Chasseron with several alpine chalets. It was the seat of a mayoralty (métralie) grouping several neighbouring villages (Fontaines, Grandevent, Villars-Burquin, Mauborget), which was broken up in the 18th century.

History of Fiez

Roman period. A Roman villa occupies the site; a small lion sculpture, millstones, tiles and small columns have been found there.

885. First mention, as «Figiaco»; in the 9th century Fiez is a royal estate.

Middle Ages. Fiez passes to the Bishop of Lausanne, then to the lordship of Grandson and finally, by donation, to the priory of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Grandson, until the Reformation.

12th century. The church of Saint-Clément is a parish church.

1179. The name appears as «Fyx».

1228. The name appears as «Fie».

1416. The village has 40 hearths.

1453. The name appears in its current form, «Fiez».

1476-1798. In the bailiwick of Grandson, jointly held by Bern and Fribourg, Fiez is the seat of a mayoralty, with a court and a general council bringing together the neighbouring communities after the church service (exact dates to be cross-checked).

late 15th century. A paper mill is recorded; it operates at least until 1570.

1531. In October the church of Fiez goes over to the Reformation.

1579. The young people of the parish ask for permission to practise shooting; Bern and Fribourg grant it and a company of arquebusiers is created.

1596. The church of Saint-Clément is altered.

1683. Construction of the house known as the «Bernerhaus» (to be cross-checked).

1716-1717. The church of Saint-Clément is altered again, to plans by Jean-Gaspard Martin of Yverdon.

1730. Fiez is broken up: among other changes, Mauborget becomes an independent municipality.

1738. A second paper mill is mentioned; a dye works operates in the 18th century.

19th century. A chocolate factory operates in the village; the company of arquebusiers disappears.

1981. The shooting society is re-established under the name «Abbaye de la Métralie de Fiez».

2006-2008. Reform of the Vaud districts (adopted in 2006, in force on 1 January 2008): the district of Grandson is dissolved and Fiez joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

Population of Fiez

Population of Fiez

1416	40 hearths (households)
1798	248
1850	337
1900	399
1950	270
1970	209
2000	345
2020	451
2025	421

Historic sites in Fiez

Church of Saint-Clément. Parish church from the 12th century, which went over to the Reformation in October 1531, altered in 1596 and again in 1716-1717 by Jean-Gaspard Martin of Yverdon. Its porch is sheltered by a centuries-old lime tree.

Lion fountain. A copy of the Roman lion found at Fiez adorns the village fountain; the original is kept in the municipal hall.

Village of Fiez. The whole village is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance (ISOS).

Remains in Fiez

Roman villa and stone lion. Remains of a Roman villa have been uncovered, with millstones, tile fragments and small columns. A small limestone lion found during the excavations is thought to date from the late 1st or early 2nd century AD; the original is kept in the municipal hall.

Chest said to be Charles the Bold's. The municipal hall keeps a strongbox presented as having belonged to Charles the Bold, defeated at Grandson in 1476 (provenance to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Fiez »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mauborget »
• Commune de Fiez, « Présentation »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Fiez »
• Wikipédia, « Fiez »
• Wikipedia (de), « Fiez »
• Wikipedia (en), « Fiez »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Fiez

• Fontaines-sur-Grandson (VD)
• Grandevent (VD)
• Novalles (VD)
• Giez (VD)
• Villars-Burquin (VD)