Oulens-sur-Lucens
Origin of the name Oulens-sur-Lucens
The first attested mention of the village appears in documents dated between 1403 and 1409, in the form «Olens»; the Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse does not propose an etymology for this form. The official website of the municipality of Lucens puts forward a much older mention, as early as 595, in the form «Ollens», which it links to the descendants of a certain Ollo, a Germanic personal name, and attributes to Gregory of Tours; this date and this attribution are not corroborated by any other source consulted and are to be cross-checked before any publication. The suffix «-ens» is typical of numerous place names in French-speaking Switzerland formed on a Burgundian or Germanic personal name, but no source precisely confirms the origin of the name «Oulens» beyond the first attestation of 1403/1409.
Founding of Oulens-sur-Lucens
No source consulted documents a precise founding act or an identified founder for Oulens-sur-Lucens. The village appears in the Middle Ages as part of the territory of the châtellenie of Lucens, itself under the authority of the Bishopric of Lausanne; it is presumably a rural settlement formed gradually around the farming of the left bank of the Broye, rather than a foundation planned on a precise date. This point remains to be cross-checked should further archaeological or archival sources be identified.
History of Oulens-sur-Lucens
595 (to be cross-checked). According to the sole website of the municipality of Lucens, a mention of «Ollens» associated with the descendants of a certain Ollo and attributed to Gregory of Tours; an isolated piece of information, not confirmed by the Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, to be cross-checked.
1403 to 1409. First attested mention of the village in the form «Olens».
1536 to 1798. Under Bernese rule, Oulens is attached to the bailiwick of Moudon, within the châtellenie of Lucens.
18th century to 1798. Tobacco cultivation attested in the village; the tobacco tithe is mentioned for the last time in 1798 (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1798 to 2006. The village belongs to the district of Moudon.
1883. Founding of a dairy society in the village (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1895. Purchase of a fire pump for the village (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1902. Installation of electricity and four public street lamps (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1915. Acquisition of a new fruit press (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1920. Construction of a water reservoir and installation of hydrants (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1922. Adoption of the communal coat of arms, combining the colours of Lucens and the diocese of Lausanne with swords evoking the Rey family, then prominent among the village's population (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
1955 to 1987. A post office is opened in the village, then closed in 1987 (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
2006. The village moves from the district of Moudon to the new district of Broye-Vully.
2011. Merger with the municipality of Lucens, effective 1 July 2011.
2017. Expanded merger forming the new municipality of Lucens with Brenles, Chesalles-sur-Moudon, Cremin, Forel-sur-Lucens and Sarzens.
Population of Oulens-sur-Lucens
| 1764 | 55 |
| 1850 | 100 |
| 1900 | 96 |
| 1950 | 79 |
| 1980 | 37 |
| 2000 | 52 |
Historic sites in Oulens-sur-Lucens
The hamlet of La Crause. The territory of Oulens-sur-Lucens comprises the village proper and the hamlet of La Crause, both located on the left bank of the Broye.
Parish of Curtilles. Spiritually, Oulens falls under the parish of Curtilles; no church of its own for the village is mentioned in the sources consulted.
A traditional rural economy. The village's economy long relied on tobacco cultivation and on a dairy society founded in 1883; four farming operations were still recorded there in 2000 (to be cross-checked, isolated information).
Remains in Oulens-sur-Lucens
Former mill of La Cerjaulaz. A former mill is mentioned on the watercourse or at the site known as La Cerjaulaz. Its precise history, construction date and period of activity are not detailed in the sources consulted and remain to be cross-checked.
Sources
- Emmanuel Abetel, « Oulens-sur-Lucens », Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse en ligne
- Wikipédia, « Oulens-sur-Lucens » (version française)
- Wikipedia, « Oulens-sur-Lucens » (version anglaise)
- Commune de Lucens, page historique d'Oulens-sur-Lucens
- Glauser, D., Les maisons rurales du canton de Vaud, vol. 4, 2003
- Fontannaz, M. et Pradervand, B., Le district de la Broye-Vully I, Les monuments d'art et d'histoire du canton de Vaud, vol. 8, 2015
Other villages near Oulens-sur-Lucens
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