Marnand

Origin of the name Marnand

The name of the village is first attested in 1142 in the form «Marnant». The exact origin of the place name remains uncertain: one hypothesis links it to the French term «marne» (a clay-limestone sedimentary rock, marl), but this etymology needs to be cross-checked as it is not confirmed by a second, independent source.

Founding of Marnand

Marnand has no foundation story attached to a particular individual or a precise act. The hamlet formed gradually during the Middle Ages around a seigneury belonging to the Villarzel family, itself a vassal of the Bishopric of Lausanne. This seigneurial organization, typical of the medieval Vaud Broye region, explains a gradual emergence of the village rather than a foundation planned by a single authority.

History of Marnand

1142. First attested mention of the place, in the form «Marnant».

Middle Ages. The village depends on the seigneury of Villarzel, itself under the authority of the Bishopric of Lausanne.

1497. End of the period of the Villarzel family's dominion over the seigneury; it passes to the Loys family (to be cross-checked, another source mentions rather the year 1511 and the association of Marnand with the village of Trey into a separate small seigneury).

1536. The Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud places Marnand under the authority of the bailiwick of Moudon.

1708. The seigneury is sold to Jean Müller, a citizen of Berne and former bailiff of Moudon.

1798-1803. During the Helvetic period, Marnand belongs to the canton of Léman before the territory's entry into the canton of Vaud in 1803; the village is attached to the district of Payerne.

1818-1876. Marnand hosts an important staging post on the road to Berne, with 80 to 120 horses permanently available, until the construction of the Broye railway line makes this staging post obsolete.

around 1890. The village château is converted into a boarding school for girls.

1939. The château is taken over by a philanthropic society, whose exact name could not be verified (to be cross-checked).

2000. The parish to which Marnand belongs changes: until then it depended on Dompierre, then it becomes part of that of Granges and surroundings (to be cross-checked, information based on a single source).

2006. Dissolution of the district of Payerne; Marnand joins the new district of Broye-Vully.

1 July 2011. Official merger of Marnand with Cerniaz, Combremont-le-Grand, Combremont-le-Petit, Granges-près-Marnand, Sassel, Seigneux and Villars-Bramard to form the new municipality of Valbroye.

Population of Marnand

Population of Marnand

1764	87
1850	204
1900	248
1950	195
1970	147
2000	145
2009	158
2010	161

Historic sites in Marnand

Château de Marnand. A château, whose currently visible part is said to date from the 17th century, is said to stand on the site of a former medieval fortress (information to be cross-checked: another source instead mentions a residential building in Bernese style with two garden pavilions and a farm building, built in the mid-18th century). Converted into a boarding school for girls around 1890, it has been occupied since 1939 by a philanthropic society whose exact name remains to be cross-checked.

Former staging post on the road to Berne. Between 1818 and 1876, Marnand hosted an important staging post, with 80 to 120 horses permanently available on the road connecting to Berne, until the opening of the Broye railway line made this staging post obsolete.

Remains in Marnand

Roman remains and Burgundian graves. Roman remains, in particular coins, as well as Burgundian graves, have been uncovered within the territory of Marnand. The exact find spot, its precise dating and the circumstances of the excavation remain to be cross-checked, as only one source could be identified at this stage.

Sources

• Fabienne Abetel-Béguelin, « Marnand », Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (HLS)
• Wikipédia (français), « Marnand (Vaud) »
• Wikipedia (English), « Marnand »
• Wikipedia (Deutsch), « Marnand »
• Feuille des Avis Officiels du Canton de Vaud (FAOVD), « Valbroye »
• Wikipédia (français), « Valbroye »

Other villages near Marnand

• Villarzel (VD)
• Henniez (VD)
• Granges-près-Marnand (VD)
• Trey (VD)
• Granges-sous-Trey (VD)