Gollion

Canton of Vaud · District: Morges · 1'091 inhabitants (31.12.2025)

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Legends Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Gollion

First written mention in 1228 as «Gollun»; later «Gollon» (1235) and «Goillon» (1453). The name is said to come from a Latin word «gotha» meaning a pond or «gouille», referring to the marshy ground (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Gollion

The area was frequented very early: three refuge sites have been identified there; one, perhaps of Helvetian origin, was occupied in Roman and Burgundian times, and the one at Borex may have served as a refuge during the barbarian invasions. Roman tiles and villa foundations have been reported near the Ouffemaz stream, at the place called Le Muret (to be cross-checked). None of the sources consulted says who founded the village or when. Gollion is already a parish before 1228 and belongs to the lordship of Cossonay until 1472.

History of Gollion

Antiquity. A refuge site, perhaps of Helvetian origin, is occupied in Roman and Burgundian times; the one at Borex may have served as a refuge during the barbarian invasions.

early Middle Ages. The Brichy mound is perhaps the site of a signal tower.

1228. First written mention as «Gollun»; Gollion is already a parish. The commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John at Crausaz is mentioned the same year.

1453. The village has 22 hearths (households).

15th century. The church is dedicated to Saint Christopher; the right of patronage belongs to the bishop of Lausanne.

1472. Gollion passes from the lordship of Cossonay to that of L'Isle, to which it belongs until 1677.

1487. The «Moulin d'Amour», on the bank of the Venoge, is already attested.

Reformation. Gollion becomes a dependent chapelry of the parish of Grancy; under Bernese rule the village belongs to the bailiwick of Morges.

1540-1798. The estate of the former Crausaz commandery forms a lordship.

1615-1631. Wave of witch trials: 27 trials target 38 people, 25 of whom are executed, in a village of about 200 inhabitants (to be cross-checked). The accused are imprisoned in the castle of L'Isle and burned at Cossonay.

1677-1798. Gollion belongs to the lordship of Grancy.

1749. Construction of the church (temple), replacing the old church of Saint-Christophe.

1798. Gollion becomes part of the district of Cossonay.

19th century. Gollion's small vineyard is known for its very poor quality.

1860-1861. Construction of the church's porch tower.

1870. The church shelters about a hundred soldiers of General Bourbaki's army (to be cross-checked).

2008. With the new territorial division of Vaud, the commune moves from the abolished district of Cossonay to the district of Morges.

Population of Gollion

22 hearths (households)

1453

313

1798

438

1850

521

1880

456

1900

384

1950

565

2000

1'091

2025

Historic sites in Gollion

Gollion church (temple). Church built in 1749 in place of the medieval church of Saint-Christophe, completed with a porch tower in 1860-1861. In 1870 it housed about a hundred soldiers of General Bourbaki's army (to be cross-checked).

Moulin d'Amour. Mill on the bank of the Venoge, attested from 1487, to which a legend is attached.

Crausaz. Place on the right bank of the Venoge where a commandery of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John (Order of Saint John of Jerusalem) stood, mentioned in 1228; the estate was a lordship from 1540 to 1798.

Remains in Gollion

Refuge sites. Three refuge sites: one, perhaps of Helvetian origin, was occupied in Roman and Burgundian times; the one at Borex may have served as a refuge during the barbarian invasions.

Brichy mound. Mound that was perhaps the site of a signal tower in the early Middle Ages.

Roman remains at Le Muret. Roman tiles and villa foundations reported near the Ouffemaz stream, at the place called Le Muret (to be cross-checked).

Ruins of the Saint-Jean chapel. The chapel of the Crausaz commandery, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, existed before the Reformation; it fell into ruin under Bernese rule (to be cross-checked).

Legends of Gollion

The Moulin d'Amour. According to a tradition published in 1906 by the historian Maxime Reymond, a knight's son secretly married the miller's daughter; preferring love to his rank, he gave up his inheritance and lived at the mill from then on.

Sources

Localities of the municipality with a page

Crausaz

Other villages near Gollion

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