Hermenches

Origin of the name Hermenches

First mentioned in 1254 in the form «Ermenges»; «villa d'Ermenges» is also found in 1340 (to be cross-checked). The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Hermenches

None of the sources consulted states when, why or by whom the village was founded. Hermenches appears in the records in 1254; from the mid-14th century a mill and a threshing mill are recorded on the Bressonnaz. Under Bernese rule, the village belonged to the castellany of Moudon. In 1641 it became a small lordship following an exchange between Their Excellencies of Bern and François Crousaz, castellan of Lutry; the lordship passed in 1725 to the Constant family, who held it until 1798. The municipality includes several hamlets.

History of Hermenches

1254. First mention of the village, in the form «Ermenges».

1340. The village has 14 hearths (households).

mid-14th century. A mill and a threshing mill are recorded on the Bressonnaz.

1453. Mention of a chapel dedicated to Saint James.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule, Hermenches belongs to the castellany of Moudon.

first half of the 17th century. Construction of the castle of Hermenches.

1641. Hermenches becomes a small lordship following an exchange between Their Excellencies of Bern and François Crousaz, castellan of Lutry.

1725. The lordship passes to the Constant family, who hold it until 1798.

1736. Elementary schooling begins in the village (to be cross-checked).

around 1760. The plan for a new chapel is abandoned in favour of a school.

1761. A cemetery is laid out.

1798. Hermenches belongs to the district of Moudon, until 2007.

1954. Restoration of the school.

1965. Closure of the restaurant housed in the castle.

1989. Creation of a residential villa zone.

1996. The castle now houses a nursing home.

2008. Hermenches becomes part of the new district of Broye-Vully.

2012. Closure of the village school (to be cross-checked).

Population of Hermenches

Population of Hermenches

1340	14 hearths (households)
1764	170
1798	206
1850	323
1900	317
1950	249
2000	284
2025	364

Historic sites in Hermenches

Castle of Hermenches. Built in the first half of the 17th century, it is linked to the small lordship created in 1641. In the 19th and 20th centuries it housed in turn a restaurant (closed in 1965), apartments and, since 1996, a nursing home.

Former school. Around 1760 the plan for a new chapel was abandoned in favour of a school, together with a cemetery laid out in 1761. The building was restored in 1954.

Uniform museum. The municipality is home to a uniform museum (to be cross-checked).

Remains in Hermenches

Mill and threshing mill on the Bressonnaz. From the mid-14th century a mill and a threshing mill are recorded on the Bressonnaz; their present state is not specified by the sources consulted (to be cross-checked).

Saint-Jacques chapel. A chapel dedicated to Saint James is mentioned in 1453. Hermenches belongs to the parish of Moudon-Syens; the plan for a new chapel was abandoned around 1760.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Hermenches »
• Wikipédia, « Hermenches »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Hermenches

• Vucherens (VD)
• Ropraz (VD)
• Syens (VD)
• Vulliens (VD)
• Bressonnaz (VD)