Oulens-sous-Echallens
Origin of the name Oulens-sous-Echallens
The village is mentioned in 1207 as «Ollens». An older mention, in a donation by the Burgundian king Guntram to the abbey of Saint-Seine dated 592 or 595 depending on the source, is also reported (to be cross-checked). The name is said to be of Burgundian origin, «Ollingos», meaning «at the home of the Ollingi», the people of a certain Ollo (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Oulens-sous-Echallens
The sources consulted do not say who founded the village. The area was occupied long before the Middle Ages: Hallstatt-period (Early Iron Age) burial mounds and an early medieval necropolis have been found there. If the Burgundian etymology is correct, the name would designate the settlement of the people of a certain Ollo (to be cross-checked). In the Middle Ages, Oulens depended on the lordship of Echallens; the abbey of Lac de Joux owned a grange (farm estate) there. Its chapel, first a dependency of Goumoens-la-Ville, belonged to the community of Montbenoît, founded in the early 12th century by the lords of Joux, which made it a parish before 1228.
History of Oulens-sous-Echallens
Early Iron Age. Hallstatt-period burial mounds are raised in the Grand Bois.
Early Middle Ages. A necropolis bears witness to the occupation of the site.
592 or 595. A donation by King Guntram to the abbey of Saint-Seine is said to mention «Ollens» (to be cross-checked).
12th century. The chapel of Oulens is a dependency of Goumoens-la-Ville and belongs to the community of Montbenoît, founded by the lords of Joux; the Romanesque church is built.
1207. First reliable mention of the village as «Ollens».
Before 1228. The abbey of Montbenoît, near Pontarlier, makes Oulens a parish.
1453. The village has 20 hearths.
1484. Oulens enters the common bailiwick of Orbe-Echallens, administered by Bern and Fribourg until 1798. The two states hold jurisdiction and part of the fief there, the rest belonging to the Thomasset, Mestrezat and de Martines families.
1553. Oulens adopts the Reformation by 24 votes to 18, the first village of the bailiwick to do so (to be cross-checked).
1640. The Protestants of Saint-Barthélemy are attached to the parish of Oulens.
1764. The village has 52 hearths.
1798. End of the common bailiwick; Oulens is attached to the district of Echallens, until 2007.
1837. The dependency of Bettens is attached to the parish; a post office opens in the village (to be cross-checked).
1853. Forty-three inhabitants emigrate to Sétif, in Algeria (to be cross-checked).
1902-1904. The village is electrified; running water follows in 1907 (to be cross-checked).
1971-1987. Land consolidation.
Late 1980s. The opening of the A1 motorway encourages commuters to settle.
1997. Opening of the storage facility for stabilised waste of the French-speaking cantons (ISDS).
2008. Oulens-sous-Echallens joins the district of Gros-de-Vaud.
2025. The municipality has 609 inhabitants on 31 December.
Population of Oulens-sous-Echallens
| 1453 | 20 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 52 hearths (households) |
| 1803 | 330 |
| 1850 | 436 |
| 1900 | 396 |
| 1950 | 316 |
| 1970 | 266 |
| 2000 | 427 |
| 2025 | 609 |
Historic sites in Oulens-sous-Echallens
Church of Oulens. Romanesque church of the 12th century, whose choir dates from the early 16th century. Formerly a chapel of the community of Montbenoît, it became the parish church before 1228; it was renovated in 1964 and is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.
Remains in Oulens-sous-Echallens
Grand Bois burial mounds. Protohistoric burial mounds of the Hallstatt period (Early Iron Age), located in the Grand Bois forest. They are listed as a cultural property of regional importance.
Early medieval necropolis. An early medieval necropolis has been discovered in the municipal territory. The sources consulted give neither its exact location nor details of the finds.
Legends of Oulens-sous-Echallens
The nickname «Quicons». The inhabitants of Oulens are nicknamed the Quicons. The sources consulted do not explain the origin of this nickname.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Oulens-sous-Echallens »
- Wikipédia, « Oulens-sous-Échallens »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Oulens-sous-Echallens »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Oulens-sous-Echallens
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change