Arzier-Le Muids

Canton of Vaud · District: Nyon · 2'999 inhabitants (31.12.2025)

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

Origin of the name Arzier-Le Muids

Name origin: Arzier appears in 1306 in the form «Argie»; none of the sources consulted explains its etymology. The neighbouring Oujon charterhouse is mentioned in the 12th century in the forms «Algio» and «Alio». The municipality, long called simply Arzier, has officially borne the name Arzier-Le Muids since 2013, combining its two villages. None of the sources consulted gives the origin of the name Le Muids.

Founding of Arzier-Le Muids

Arzier and Le Muids owe their existence to the charterhouse of Notre-Dame d'Oujon, founded between 1146 and 1149 on the municipality's territory. To populate its vast estates, in 1304 the charterhouse granted numerous liberties to settlers: land granted without rent, grazing and forest rights, light dues and labour services, exemption from taxes. Since this foundation the two villages have formed a single administration, later governed by a Council of eight members, four for Arzier and four for Le Muids.

History of Arzier-Le Muids

1146-1149. Foundation of the charterhouse of Notre-Dame d'Oujon, the first Carthusian house in Switzerland; 13th-century tradition attributes its foundation to Louis de Mont.

1304. The Oujon charterhouse grants liberties to settlers: birth of the community of Arzier and Le Muids.

1306. The church of Saint-Antoine becomes a parish church; first mention of Arzier in the form «Argie».

1536. Bernese conquest: Arzier is attached to the bailiwick of Nyon; its parish includes Saint-Cergue (until 1713) and Bassins (until 1667, when the church of Bassins is attached to Burtigny).

1537. On 4 January the last three fathers of Oujon, who reject the Reformation, leave the charterhouse.

1647-1648. The parsonage is rebuilt (to be cross-checked).

1657. A village court sits in Arzier.

1664. The municipality buys out all seigneurial revenues from Bern for 1'300 florins a year.

1980. Municipal taxes are introduced, until then unnecessary thanks to forest income.

1987. The Creux du Cruaz is placed under nature protection.

1988. Construction of a municipal and school centre by the architect Vincent Mangeat.

1990. 75% of the working population are commuters, mainly to Geneva.

2013. The municipality officially takes the name Arzier-Le Muids.

Population of Arzier-Le Muids

317

1764

443

1850

479

1900

343

1950

1'811

2000

2'999

2025

Historic sites in Arzier-Le Muids

Church of Arzier. Former church of Saint-Antoine, founded by the Oujon charterhouse and made a parish church in 1306; today a Reformed church.

Parsonage. The pastor's house, rebuilt in 1647-1648 (to be cross-checked).

Municipal and school centre. Built in 1988 by Vincent Mangeat.

Creux du Cruaz. Nature site protected since 1987.

Municipal forests. About 1'300 hectares of forest, the source of the village's relative prosperity over the centuries.

Remains in Arzier-Le Muids

Ruins of the Oujon charterhouse. Charterhouse founded between 1146 and 1149 at over 1'000 m altitude, the first in Switzerland. It had about twelve fathers at first, then five or six from the 14th century, and took part in the settlement of the Jura between Geneva and Jougne. Abandoned after the last fathers left in 1537, it gradually disappeared. The ruins have been excavated since 1973 and the plan of the charterhouse is now marked out by earthworks along a trail. It preserves the rare evidence of a «lower house» for the lay brothers, abolished in the early 14th century. Earlier excavation campaigns, from 1945, are reported by other sources (to be cross-checked).

Sources

Other villages near Arzier-Le Muids

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