Villars-le-Comte
Origin of the name Villars-le-Comte
First written mention: «Vilario-comitis» in 1147. The name is said to combine the Latin «villare» (rural estate) with «comte» (count, Latin «comes»), perhaps designating the estate of a Merovingian-era administrator, which distinguishes it from the other Villars (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Villars-le-Comte
The sources consulted give neither a founding date nor a founder. In the Middle Ages, Villars-le-Comte was subject to the Bishop of Lausanne and belonged to the castellany of Lucens. The village, on the road from Lucens to Thierrens, had a church dedicated to Notre-Dame from the 12th century.
History of Villars-le-Comte
1147. First written mention, in the form «Vilario-comitis».
1177. Pope Alexander III confirms the priory of Saint-Maire in Lausanne in possession of the church of Notre-Dame.
1182. The church depends on the cathedral chapter of Lausanne.
14th century. Mention of the bridge over the Broye at Lucens, to whose upkeep Villars-le-Comte had to contribute.
1490/1497. The priory of Saint-Maire still holds tithes in Villars-le-Comte.
1536. Start of Bernese rule; the village is attached to the bailiwick of Moudon until 1798. Before the Reformation, the church was a dependency of the parish of Thierrens.
18th century. At the start of the century, a fire destroys two thirds of the village (to be cross-checked).
1798. The municipality passes to the district of Moudon, until 2006.
1822. Construction of the present temple.
1828. The village belongs to the parish of Denezy (1828-1846, then 1849-1958), with a return to Thierrens in 1846-1848.
1885. Founding of the dairy society, active until 2011.
1958. The village again belongs to the parish of Thierrens.
1989. An organ-building workshop settles in the municipality.
1997. A viewpoint indicator is installed at the highest point of the municipality for the 850th anniversary of the first mention (to be cross-checked).
2008. The district of Broye-Vully, created by the new territorial division of Vaud, begins operating on 1 January.
2011. End of the dairy society.
Population of Villars-le-Comte
| 1764 | 148 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 268 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 217 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 161 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 122 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 129 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Villars-le-Comte
Temple of Villars-le-Comte. Present temple built in 1822; the village church, dedicated to Notre-Dame, is mentioned from 1177. The temple was renovated in 1952 (to be cross-checked).
Viewpoint indicator. Viewpoint indicator installed in 1997 at the highest point of the municipality, overlooking the Alps, for the 850th anniversary of the village's first mention (to be cross-checked).
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villars-le-Comte »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Wikipédia, « Villars-le-Comte »
Other villages near Villars-le-Comte
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