Novalles

Origin of the name Novalles

First mentioned in 1179 in the form «Novellis», when the Cistercian abbey of Hautcrêt already owned a grange there, then «Novelles» in 1403. The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Novalles

None of the sources consulted names a founder or describes how the village came into being. Novalles lies on the plateau overlooking the left bank of the Arnon. It originally belonged to the barony of Grandson; in the 14th century part of the village passed to the lordship of Champvent, which then held the local church. In the 18th century another part forms a noble fief granted to the Calame family of Grandson. In church matters the inhabitants belong to the parish of Fiez. The municipality comprises the village and the hamlet of Moulin, north-west of Grandson. The village has always lived mainly from farming, helped by fertile soils.

History of Novalles

1179. First mention, in the form «Novellis»; the abbey of Hautcrêt owns a grange there.

14th century. Part of the village, until then in the barony of Grandson, passes to the lordship of Champvent, which then controls the local church.

1403. The name appears in the form «Novelles» (to be cross-checked).

1476-1798. Under Bernese rule, Novalles is attached to the «terre de Montagny» and forms part of the bailiwick of Grandson, shared by Bern and Fribourg.

1531. On Christmas Day serious disturbances break out in Novalles over religion: Catholics, joined by fellow believers from other villages, violently resist the entry of the Reformed.

1532. The Reformation is adopted by vote in Novalles.

1671. A huge landslide buries the western part of the village and sweeps away the direct path to La Mothe; a new road is built further down.

18th century. Hemp-beating mills appear; part of the village forms a noble fief granted to the Calame family of Grandson.

1798-1803. Under the Helvetic Republic Novalles belongs to the canton of Léman, then to the canton of Vaud from 1803; from 1798 to 2006 it is part of the district of Grandson.

around 1920. End of the water-powered industries, mills and sawmills, along the Arnon.

late 1950s. Vine-growing, practised in Novalles until then, comes to an end.

2000. The municipality has four farms; three quarters of the working population work outside the municipality.

2006-2008. Reform of the Vaud districts: the district of Grandson is dissolved and Novalles joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

Population of Novalles

Population of Novalles

1803	94
1850	117
1900	117
1950	83
1980	68
2000	99
2010	101
2020	100
2025	105

Historic sites in Novalles

Village of Novalles. The entire village is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance (ISOS).

Mill on the Arnon. The municipal coat of arms, «palé d'argent et d'azur à la roue de moulin d'or brochante», recalls the village's old mill on the Arnon; the pales refer to the arms of the former lords of Grandson (to be cross-checked).

Sources

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

Other villages near Novalles

• Grandevent (VD)
• Vugelles-La Mothe (VD)
• Fiez (VD)
• Fontaines-sur-Grandson (VD)
• Giez (VD)