Montet (Cudrefin)

Origin of the name Montet (Cudrefin)

Name origin: the origin of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Montet (Cudrefin)

Montet is not a municipality but a locality of the municipality of Cudrefin, in the district of Broye-Vully. The village occupies a hill overlooking Lake Neuchâtel. The site was already occupied in the first millennium, but no source consulted names its founders. In the Middle Ages, Montet was the seat of the parish of Cudrefin, which covered Cudrefin, Champmartin, Vallamand-Dessus, Mur and Guévaux; the new town of Cudrefin, founded by Peter of Savoy between 1246 and 1255 on the lakeshore, belonged to this parish. The village, surrounded by 19th-century country houses, has become residential.

History of Montet (Cudrefin)

1st millennium. The hill of Montet is already occupied.

1228. Montet is the seat of the parish of Cudrefin, which covers Cudrefin, Champmartin, Vallamand-Dessus, Mur and Guévaux.

1246-1255. Peter of Savoy founds the new town of Cudrefin on the lakeshore, which belongs to the parish of Montet.

1342. The town of Cudrefin, attached to the parish of Montet, has a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame.

15th century. Before the middle of the century, the church of Saint-Théodule and the parsonage are rebuilt by Humbert of Savoy (died 1443); at the same time, the Trinity chapel is built over an ossuary.

18th century. At the beginning of the century, the church is altered.

1897-1914. Restoration of the church under the direction of Albert Naef.

1984-1991. New restoration of the church.

2008. The new Vaud districts come into force; Montet, with the municipality of Cudrefin, is part of the district of Broye-Vully.

Historic sites in Montet (Cudrefin)

Church of Saint-Théodule. Church of the former parish of Cudrefin, on the hill of Montet, rebuilt before the middle of the 15th century by Humbert of Savoy (died 1443), altered at the beginning of the 18th century and restored from 1897 to 1914 by Albert Naef, then from 1984 to 1991. It has a large vaulted choir adorned with coats of arms.

Trinity chapel. Chapel built in the 15th century over an ossuary, at the same time as the rebuilding of the church; it houses fine wall paintings.

The parsonage. Parsonage rebuilt before the middle of the 15th century, together with the church, by Humbert of Savoy.

Country houses. A few fine 19th-century country houses adorn the surroundings of the village.

Legends of Montet (Cudrefin)

The count's ransom. According to a local tradition reported by the regional tourist office, Count Humbert of Savoy, held captive in Bulgaria during a crusade, was supposedly ransomed partly with funds from the lordship of Cudrefin and had the church built on the hill in gratitude. This source gives his death as 1374, whereas the church is elsewhere attributed to Humbert of Savoy who died in 1443 (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Brigitte Pradervand, « Montet », version du 04.01.2017
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, Brigitte Pradervand, « Cudrefin », version du 04.01.2017
• Société d'histoire de l'art en Suisse, Guide artistique de la Suisse, notice « Cudrefin » (inventaire PBC)
• Région de Fribourg, « Église Saint-Théodule »
• Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, géoportail fédéral map.geo.admin.ch, recherche « Montet Cudrefin »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Montet (Cudrefin)

• Cudrefin (VD)
• Vallamand (VD)
• Champmartin (VD)
• Cotterd (VD)
• Bellerive (VD)