Belmont-sur-Yverdon
Origin of the name Belmont-sur-Yverdon
The place appears in 1154 as «castrum Bellimontis» (the castle of Belmont), then in 1220 «burgum Bellimontis» (the town of Belmont). The name evokes a «beautiful mount» (to be cross-checked); the addition «sur-Yverdon» refers to the neighbouring town. The hamlet of Le Villaret is mentioned in 1164 as «Villars-Frelon».
Founding of Belmont-sur-Yverdon
Belmont grew out of a lordship formed in the 11th-12th centuries by the Grandson family. Its castle, attested in 1154, stood on a molasse rock spur overlooking almost the entire Orbe valley, on the site of the present cemetery. At the foot of the castle a fortified suburb developed, with a weekly market in 1220; it obtained urban franchises before 1367 and in 1433 counted among the «bonnes villes» of the Pays de Vaud, before becoming a village again in the 16th century. The lordship also included Gressy, Ependes, Suchy, Valeyres-sous-Ursins and Ursins. The inhabitants are nicknamed «lè Tire-l'Adze» (the hedge-pullers) and «lè Ferra-Caïon» (the pig-shoers).
History of Belmont-sur-Yverdon
11th-12th centuries. The Grandson family forms the lordship of Belmont.
1154. First mention of the castle, «castrum Bellimontis».
1164. First mention of the hamlet of Le Villaret, «Villars-Frelon».
before 1185. Belmont becomes the appanage of Jordan de Grandson-Belmont.
1220. Mention of the town, «burgum Bellimontis», a fortified suburb with a weekly market.
around 1275. The castle is rebuilt and given a circular keep.
before 1367. The town obtains urban franchises.
1389. The Count of Savoy confiscates the lordship; Baron Hugues de Grandson, imprisoned for forging documents, dies in 1391 (to be cross-checked).
1393-1428. The lordship is granted as a fief to the La Trémoille family.
1406. Mention of a confraternity of the Holy Spirit; Belmont, always part of the parish of Gressy, has a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
1409. Belmont has 31 hearths.
1433. Belmont is among the «bonnes villes» of the Pays de Vaud.
1536. During the Bernese conquest the castle is entirely dismantled.
1553. The lordship becomes a mere castellany of the bailiwick of Yverdon.
16th century. The town declines and becomes a village again.
1798. The municipality joins the district of Yverdon.
1803. Belmont becomes the chief town of a circle.
1813. Division of the common property with Gressy.
1919. Adoption of the coat of arms: Paly Argent and Azure, a castle Gules, inspired by the house of Grandson (to be cross-checked).
2008. With the new districts coming into force on 1 January, the municipality joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.
Population of Belmont-sur-Yverdon
| 1409 | 31 hearths (households) |
| 1550 | 25 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 249 (52 hearths) |
| 1850 | 387 |
| 1900 | 373 |
| 1910 | 395 |
| 1950 | 289 |
| 1974 | 188 (to be cross-checked) |
| 2000 | 247 |
| 2025 | 457 |
Historic sites in Belmont-sur-Yverdon
Site of Belmont Castle. The castle of the lords of Grandson-Belmont stood on a molasse spur overlooking almost the entire Orbe valley, where the cemetery is today. Attested in 1154 and rebuilt around 1275 with a circular keep, it was entirely dismantled during the Bernese conquest of 1536. The site, a prehistoric and medieval settlement, is listed as a cultural property of regional importance (to be cross-checked).
Le Villaret. Hamlet of the municipality, mentioned from 1164 under the name «Villars-Frelon».
Remains in Belmont-sur-Yverdon
Archaeological site of the castle. Of the castle and the fortified town, dismantled in 1536, no building survives; the site, occupied by the cemetery, is recognised as a prehistoric and medieval settlement site (to be cross-checked).
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse), « Belmont-sur-Yverdon »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Belmont (VD) »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Belmont-sur-Yverdon »
- Wikipédia, « Belmont-sur-Yverdon »
- Wikipedia (en), « Belmont-sur-Yverdon »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Belmont-sur-Yverdon
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