Sévery

Canton of Vaud · District: Morges · about 214 inhabitants (2020)

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Sévery

The precise origin of the name is not explained in the sources consulted. The oldest attested written forms of the name are Siuiriaco in 979 and Syuiriez in 1453. This type of ending in -y, frequent in Vaud toponymy, is often linked to an old Gallo-Roman suffix attached to a personal name, but this precise interpretation for Sévery has not been confirmed by a source specialized in toponymy (still to be cross-checked).

Founding of Sévery

Sévery has no identified founder nor a precise date of creation: like most villages in the region, it took shape gradually in the early Middle Ages around a pre-existing rural settlement. The site has been occupied since Antiquity: remains of a Roman villa from the 1st century as well as an early medieval necropolis have been uncovered at the place called Le Châtelard. The first written mention of the village dates from 979, in the form Siuiriaco. From the Middle Ages, the village fell under the barony and then the castellany of Cossonay, while the abbey of Saint-Maurice held important estates there.

History of Sévery

1st century. Roman occupation attested by the remains of a villa discovered at the place called Le Châtelard.

Early Middle Ages. A necropolis occupies the site of Le Châtelard after the Roman villa is abandoned.

979. First written mention of the village, in the Latinized form Siuiriaco.

1007. According to a source not otherwise corroborated, a first château (located to the north-east of the village) is said to be mentioned as early as this date (still to be cross-checked).

1228. A mill is mentioned for the first time within the village's territory; it still operates today as an oil press.

13th century. Construction of a second château on the bank of the Simpremont, square in plan, of the Savoyard type, with four round towers.

1453. The village's name is attested in the form Syuiriez.

1495. According to an isolated source, the lord of Sévery at the time is said to have been a certain Jean de Mont (still to be cross-checked).

1536. The conquest of the Pays de Vaud by Berne places Sévery under the administration of the bailiwick of Morges.

1768. The present château (manor house) is rebuilt by Salomon de Charrière, reusing the stones of the old 13th-century Gothic château.

1784. The present church, dedicated to Saint Maurice, is built on an earlier building.

1798. According to an isolated source, the communal archives are said to have been destroyed during the revolutionary unrest by groups known as « bourla-papey » (still to be cross-checked).

1798-2006. After the fall of Bernese rule, the village administratively belongs to the district of Cossonay, before being attached to the district of Morges.

1885. The communal authorities have the remains of the first château (in the north-east) demolished, in order to increase the income from communal property.

1911. The village church is restored.

1 July 2021. Sévery merges with Apples, Bussy-Chardonney, Cottens, Pampigny and Reverolle to form the new commune of Hautemorges; because of its small population, Sévery obtains only 4 seats on the communal council there, the lowest number among the six former communes.

Population of Sévery

160

1764

198

1850

162

1900

137

1950

193

2000

223

2010

214

2020

Historic sites in Sévery

Saint-Maurice church. Built in 1784 on an earlier building and restored in 1911, the church is dedicated to Saint Maurice. It became an annex of the parish of Pampigny as early as the 15th century.

Sévery Château. Manor house rebuilt in 1768 by Salomon de Charrière with the stones of the 13th-century Gothic château that preceded it. According to an isolated source, Catherine de Chandieu, married in 1766, is said to have received leading figures of the late 18th century there, and renovation work is said to have been carried out there in the early 20th century by a member of the de Charrière family (details still to be cross-checked).

Le Châtelard. Archaeological site that has yielded remains of a Roman villa from the 1st century, later occupied by an early medieval necropolis.

Former oil mill. Mill mentioned as early as 1228 within the village's territory, still operating today as an oil press. According to an isolated source, the present building of this walnut oil mill is said to date from 1598 (still to be cross-checked, this date possibly relating to a rebuilding rather than the original mention).

Remains in Sévery

Tower of the 13th-century Gothic château. Of the second château, built on the bank of the Simpremont in the 13th century, square in plan, of the Savoyard type, with four round towers, only a single complete tower survives. According to an isolated source, this tower appears in a drawing by Wagner dated 1839 (still to be cross-checked).

Remains of the Roman villa of Le Châtelard. Remains of a Roman villa from the 1st century and of an early medieval necropolis have been uncovered at the place called Le Châtelard.

Sources

Other villages near Sévery

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