Vevey
Origin of the name Vevey
The name appears around 280 as "Vibisco", then in 998 as "Uiueisi" and in 1220 as "Viveys"; the old German name is "Vivis". The origin of the name is uncertain: several hypotheses have been proposed, such as a Latin "Bivis vicus" (village at the junction of two roads) or a river name "uiuis"; none is established with certainty (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Vevey
Vevey has no known founder. The site has been occupied since the Neolithic, and a Celtic cemetery (450-200 BC) was discovered in 1901. In Roman times a settlement interpreted as a vicus grew up thanks to its favourable position on the Great St Bernard road, on the shore of Lake Geneva. In the Middle Ages the place depended on several lords, notably the Blonay and Oron families, before coming under Savoy: in 1370 Count Amadeus VI of Savoy granted the town a charter of liberties.
History of Vevey
Neolithic. Neolithic occupation at the site of Creux de Plan.
450-200 BC. Celtic cemetery, discovered in 1901.
Roman period. Growth of a settlement (vicus) on the Great St Bernard road, on the lakeshore.
around 280. First mention of the place, in the form "Vibisco".
998. The name appears in the form "Uiueisi".
12th century. First mention of the church of Saint-Martin.
Middle Ages. The place develops under the authority of several lords, including the Blonay and Oron families.
1370. Count Amadeus VI of Savoy grants the town a charter of liberties.
from 1496. Rebuilding of the church of Saint-Martin.
1536. During the conquest of Vaud, possession of Vevey is disputed between Bern and Fribourg; the town comes under Bernese rule and the church of Saint-Martin is given over to Reformed worship.
1764. The town has 3'350 inhabitants.
1797. First Fête des Vignerons, organised by the Confrérie des vignerons (winegrowers' brotherhood).
1808. Construction of the Grenette, the grain hall on the Place du Marché.
1819. Founding of the Cailler chocolate factory in the neighbouring commune of Corsier-sur-Vevey.
1843. Henri Nestlé, future founder of the company that bears his name, arrives in Vevey.
1848-2004. Operation of a tobacco factory.
1850. The town has 5'201 inhabitants.
1861-1862. Arrival of the railway.
1875. Daniel Peter develops milk chocolate in Vevey.
1888. An electric tramway goes into service.
1897. Founding of the Musée Jenisch.
1900. Opening of the Vevey-Chardonne-Mont-Pèlerin funicular; the town has 13'664 inhabitants.
1936. The chemist Max Morgenthaler invents Nescafé.
1985. Opening of the Alimentarium, a food museum founded by Nestlé.
1995. The giant fork is installed in the lake in front of the Alimentarium.
2016. The Fête des Vignerons is inscribed by UNESCO on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
2019. Most recent edition of the Fête des Vignerons (18 July-11 August).
Population of Vevey
| 1764 | 3'350 |
| 1798 | 3'300 |
| 1850 | 5'201 |
| 1900 | 13'664 |
| 1950 | 14'264 |
| 2000 | 16'202 |
| 2025 | 20'179 |
Historic sites in Vevey
Church of Saint-Martin. Mentioned from the 12th century and rebuilt from 1496, it overlooks the town and has been used for Reformed worship since the Reformation.
Place du Marché and Grenette. A vast square on the lakeshore that hosts the major editions of the Fête des Vignerons; the Grenette, the former grain hall, dates from 1808.
Fête des Vignerons. Organised by the Confrérie des vignerons since 1797, about every 25 years, it celebrates the work of the vineyards; it has been on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2016.
Musée Jenisch. Fine arts museum founded in 1897.
Alimentarium and the fork in the lake. Food museum opened in 1985 by Nestlé, which has its headquarters in Vevey; the giant fork planted in the lake in 1995 has become an emblem of the town.
Château de l'Aile. Historic mansion on the lakeshore, a landmark of the town's waterfront.
Remains in Vevey
Celtic cemetery. Discovered in 1901, this cemetery dated to 450-200 BC shows a Celtic presence long before the Roman settlement.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vevey (commune) »
- Wikipédia FR, « Vevey »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Vevey
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