Mauborget

Origin of the name Mauborget

First mentioned in 1403 as «Malborget» (also «Villar Malborget»), in an acknowledgement of fiefs made to Count Amadeus of Savoy by Marguerite de Montbéliard. The name later took the form «Montborget». It is explained as «mau» (bad) and «borget» (small borough), that is «bad little borough» (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Mauborget

Mauborget lies between the Chasseron and the Mont Aubert, on the road from Grandson to Môtiers (NE). In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the lordship of Grandson; it first appears in the records in 1403, among the villages of the mandement of Grandson. No source consulted names a founder. Long attached to the community and parish of Fiez, it only became a separate municipality in 1730, when Fiez was broken up. The village lived from mountain farming and forestry, then from tourism from the beginning of the 20th century.

History of Mauborget

Middle Ages. Mauborget is part of the lordship of Grandson.

1403. First mention, as «Malborget», in an acknowledgement made to Count Amadeus of Savoy by Marguerite de Montbéliard for the castle, town and mandement of Grandson.

1484-1798. After the Burgundian Wars, the village is incorporated into the bailiwick of Grandson, jointly administered by Bern and Fribourg.

1730. The municipality of Mauborget is formed when Fiez is broken up.

1798-1803. Under the Helvetic Republic, Mauborget belongs to the canton of Léman; it is attached to the district of Grandson (until 2006).

1897. In church matters Mauborget, until then attached to the parish of Fiez, passes to the chapelry of Villars-Burquin, made a parish in 1917.

around 1900. Summer tourism flourishes, with the building of a hotel and several guesthouses.

1921. Adoption of the current coat of arms, based on that of the lords of Grandson, with an embattled bend alluding to the «borget» (small borough).

1964. A chapel is built.

late 20th century. Shift towards winter tourism (cross-country skiing, second homes); a network of asphalt roads and active forestry allow mountain farming to continue (five farms in 2000).

2003. On 18 October the village celebrates its 600 years by planting a commemorative lime tree.

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

Population of Mauborget

Population of Mauborget

1803	94
1850	126
1900	92
1950	68
1980	41
2000	85
2020	127
2025	137

Historic sites in Mauborget

Village of Mauborget. At 1'170 m above sea level, it is the highest village of the Vaud Jura; in clear weather the view extends over the whole chain of the Alps.

Mauborget chapel. Chapel built in 1964; the village, which previously had no church of its own, belonged to the parish of Fiez and, from 1897, to Villars-Burquin.

600th anniversary lime tree. Lime tree planted on 18 October 2003 to commemorate 600 years since the first written mention of the village.

Sources

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

Other villages near Mauborget

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