Montagny-le-Corbe

Origin of the name Montagny-le-Corbe

Montagny is mentioned in 995/996 as « in villa Montaniaco », then in 1397 in the form « Montaigny-le-Courbe ». The village next to the castle, today Montagny-près-Yverdon, is also called « Montagny-le-Corboz ». The second element, « le Corbe », is not explained by the sources consulted; the nickname of the inhabitants of Montagny, « lè fouetta-corbé » (the crow-whippers), is said to be linked to this old name (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Montagny-le-Corbe

Montagny-le-Corbe refers to the former seigneurial centre of Montagny, now in the municipality of Montagny-près-Yverdon: a castle built in the 10th or 11th century on the top of a hill overlooking the Brinaz stream, north of the present village, and the small town (bourg) that went with it. The castle is considered one of the oldest in the canton of Vaud. No source consulted names its founder. Enclosed within the lordship of Grandson, the land of Montagny may have passed to Amédée II of Montfaucon through his marriage to Béatrice de Grandson in the second half of the 12th century. The lordship later belonged to the Chalon family; after the destruction of the castle in 1475 it was joined to the common bailiwick of Grandson.

History of Montagny-le-Corbe

995/996. First mention of Montagny, « in villa Montaniaco ».

10th-11th century. Construction of the castle of Montagny, centre of a large lordship (the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland gives the 11th century).

1149. The Montfaucon family are the first known owners of the castle (to be cross-checked).

second half of the 12th century. The land of Montagny may pass to Amédée II of Montfaucon through his marriage to Béatrice de Grandson.

1397. Mention in the form « Montaigny-le-Courbe ».

1403. The lordship belongs to Marguerite de Montfaucon-Montbéliard: it includes the castle and the small town of Montagny, the villages of Montagny-le-Corboz, Valeyres-sous-Montagny and Giez, part of Chamblon, Champagne, Bonvillars, Romairon and Novalles, as well as various properties and tolls.

1428. The lordship, now held by the Chalon family, is granted franchises.

1450. Louis de Chalon-Orange spends a large sum repairing the castle.

1475. During the Burgundian Wars the castle is taken and burnt down by the Confederates; it is never rebuilt.

1484-1798. The lordship, now in the hands of Bern and Fribourg, is joined to the common bailiwick of Grandson.

1497. Étienne de Montagny buys back the land of Montagny.

1665-1798. The land of Montagny belongs to the de Molin family.

Historic sites in Montagny-le-Corbe

The castle hill. Wooded height overlooking the Brinaz stream, north of the village of Montagny-près-Yverdon. It carried the castle and the small town of Montagny, centre of a lordship which in 1403 extended over several villages at the foot of the Jura and on the edge of the Orbe plain.

Remains in Montagny-le-Corbe

Tower of the castle of Montagny-le-Corbe. The castle had at least four towers. One polygonal tower survives, with a facade about 20 metres high and walls 1.75 metres thick. Partly hidden by the forest and ivy, it receives no regular maintenance.

Mound and section of wall. A rounded mound still visible in the forest may be the remains of another tower; a section of wall leans against it (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montagny (VD, seigneurie) »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montagny-près-Yverdon »
• Archeoplus, « Montagny-près-Yverdon (VD) »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Montagny-près-Yverdon »
• Wikipédia, « Montagny-près-Yverdon »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Montagny-le-Corbe

• Valeyres-sous-Montagny (VD)
• Montagny-près-Yverdon (VD)
• Chamblon (VD)
• Essert-sous-Champvent (VD)
• Orges (VD)