Morges

Origin of the name Morges

The name appears in 1288 in the form "Morgia". It is the same as that of the river Morges, which flows into the lake here; the origin of this river name is not established in the sources consulted (to be cross-checked). The old German name of the town is "Morsee".

Founding of Morges

The site has been occupied since the Bronze Age by lakeshore villages. The present town is a Savoyard foundation: in 1286 Louis I of Savoy, baron of Vaud, created a new town protected by a castle, on a regular Zähringen-type plan. Its liberties are mentioned in 1293. Morges is one of the four "good towns" of Vaud, together with Moudon, Nyon and Yverdon.

History of Morges

Bronze Age. Lakeshore villages of Les Roseaux (Early Bronze Age), Grande-Cité and Vers-l'Église (Late Bronze Age), with remarkably well-preserved structures.

1286. Louis I of Savoy founds the new town of Morges, protected by a castle.

1288. First known mention of the name, in the form "Morgia".

1293. The town's liberties are mentioned.

1459. The town has 130 hearths (households).

1536. Bernese conquest of Vaud; Morges becomes the seat of a bailiwick in 1539.

around 1540-1550. The castle is rebuilt to adapt it to artillery.

1690-1692. Construction of the Bernese granary.

1691-1696. The present harbour, with two curved breakwaters, is built.

1721. The town has 1'942 inhabitants.

1769-1776. Construction of the temple (Reformed church), regarded as one of the masterpieces of Reformed architecture in Switzerland.

1855. Opening of the canton's first railway link, between Morges and Yverdon.

1915-1917. The composer Igor Stravinsky lives in Morges.

1922. Founding of the cantonal agricultural school.

1925. The castle becomes home to the Vaud Military Museum.

1936. The Polish pianist and statesman Ignacy Paderewski, who lived in Morges for 43 years, founds the Front de Morges there.

1964. The A1 motorway crosses the commune.

2000. The town has 14'154 inhabitants.

2011. The Morges lakeshore settlements are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps".

Population of Morges

Population of Morges

1459	130 hearths (households)
1721	1'942
1764	2'385
1850	3'241
1900	4'421
1950	6'456
2000	14'154
2010	14'744
2025	17'813

Historic sites in Morges

Morges Castle. Founded in 1286 by Louis I of Savoy and rebuilt around 1540-1550 by the Bernese for artillery, it has housed the Vaud Military Museum and other collections since 1925.

Grand-Rue and Maison Blanchenay. The main street of the new town keeps several listed buildings, including the former Croix-Blanche inn (around 1550, Gothic façade) and the Blanchenay house, home of the Musée Alexis Forel.

Temple. Built from 1769 to 1776, it is one of the masterpieces of Reformed architecture in Switzerland.

Harbour and Bernese granary. The harbour with two curved breakwaters (1691-1696) and the Bernese granary (1690-1692) recall the commercial role of Morges under Bern.

Fête de la Tulipe. Annual flower show in the Parc de l'Indépendance, one of the largest in Switzerland.

Remains in Morges

Morges lakeshore settlements. The Bronze Age villages of Les Roseaux, Grande-Cité and Vers-l'Église preserve remarkably well-kept structures under water; since 2011 they have been part of the pile-dwelling sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Morges (commune) »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vaud »
• Wikipédia FR, « Morges »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Morges

• Chigny (VD)
• Joulens (VD)
• Roman (VD)
• Préverenges (VD)
• Echichens (VD)