Mex

Origin of the name Mex

The village is mentioned in 1154 in the form «Mais». The origin of the name is not explained by the sources consulted.

Founding of Mex

The sources consulted do not say when or by whom the village was founded. Tiles and pottery point to probable Roman settlements on its territory. The village and its lordship appear in written records in 1154; from the Middle Ages, Mex lay on the road linking Lausanne to Jougne.

History of Mex

Roman period. Remains (tiles and pottery) point to probable Roman settlements.

1154. First mention of the village and its lordship, in the form «Mais».

1228. The church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine appears as a parish church in the pouillé (list of parishes) of 1228.

14th century. The lordship is divided into two fiefs. The fortified house, today's Château d'En-Bas, is held in fief and liege homage from the lord of Cossonay.

1416. The village has 14 hearths.

1475-1798. Mex belongs to the common bailiwick of Orbe-Echallens.

late 15th century. The two fiefs are reunited into a single lordship.

1570. The church only becomes Protestant at this date, when the heads of family vote by majority for the Reformation (the so-called «plus» vote).

1580-1582. The church is rebuilt.

1585-1798. The de Charrière family holds the lordship of Mex.

1711-1845. Mex, first an annex of the parish of Penthaz, becomes an annex of the parish of Vufflens-la-Ville (then of Crissier from 1846 to 1851, and again of Vufflens-la-Ville from 1852).

18th century. Salomon and Catherine de Charrière make their residence, the Château d'En-Haut, a centre of Lausanne's fashionable society.

1798. Mex is assigned to the district of Cossonay.

1974. An intermunicipal industrial zone is laid out with Vufflens-la-Ville and Villars-Sainte-Croix.

1983. The municipal hall is built.

1985. The school building is restored.

2008. New Vaud districts (2006 law): Mex moves from the district of Cossonay to the district of Gros-de-Vaud (1 January). The former farming municipality has become residential, with most of its inhabitants working in the Lausanne agglomeration.

Population of Mex

Population of Mex

1416	14 hearths (households)
1453	10 hearths (households)
1764	18 hearths (households)
1798	140 inhabitants
1850	233 inhabitants
1900	198 inhabitants
1950	191 inhabitants
1980	271 inhabitants
2000	547 inhabitants
2022	818 inhabitants
2025	828 inhabitants

Historic sites in Mex

Church (former church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine). Parish church attested in 1228, which adopted the Reformation in 1570 and was rebuilt in 1580-1582. It keeps late Gothic windows; it was renovated in the 17th century and its walls were raised around 1790. It contains wall paintings by Louis Rivier (1908-1909) and stained glass by Yoki (1979).

Château d'En-Bas. Former medieval fortified house, held in fief and liege homage from the lord of Cossonay. It is listed as a cultural property of national significance.

Château d'En-Haut. Residence of the lords de Charrière, who in the 18th century made it a centre of Lausanne's fashionable society. The building dates from the 16th century and is said to have been enlarged around 1650 for Jean-François de Charrière (to be cross-checked).

Heritage site of national significance. The whole village of Mex is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS).

Remains in Mex

Roman remains. Tiles and pottery found on the municipal territory point to probable settlements of the Roman period.

Legends of Mex

The «Foulx». According to tradition, the people of Mex are nicknamed the «Foulx», from a dialect word for the stunted fruit of the chestnut: they are said to have sold such fruit hidden in the husk.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mex (VD) »
• Wikipédia (français), « Mex (Vaud) »
• Wikipedia (anglais), « Mex, Vaud »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Mex

• Vufflens-la-Ville (VD)
• Sullens (VD)
• Villars-Sainte-Croix (VD)
• Crausaz (VD)
• Penthaz (VD)