Bioley-Magnoux
Origin of the name Bioley-Magnoux
The village is mentioned in 1228 as «Biolai». The sources consulted explain neither the etymology of «Bioley» nor that of the addition «Magnoux» (to be cross-checked). The inhabitants are nicknamed «lè Pyoû» (the lice).
Founding of Bioley-Magnoux
None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village. An Early Medieval necropolis was discovered at the place called Montelier. Around 1225, when the lordship of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne was divided, Bioley separated from it together with the villages of Gossens, Oppens, Orzens, Correvon and Ogens to form a lordship of its own for Guillaume de Bioley. The castle, attested in 1244, protected a small fortified town mentioned until 1403. The lordship then passed to the Corbières, to the Goumoëns and later to various families from Fribourg and Neuchâtel until its liquidation in 1791-1804.
History of Bioley-Magnoux
Early Middle Ages. A necropolis is laid out at Montelier.
around 1225. Bioley becomes the centre of a lordship separated from Saint-Martin-du-Chêne, with Gossens, Oppens, Orzens, Correvon and Ogens, for Guillaume de Bioley.
1228. First mention of the village, «Biolai».
1244. First mention of the castle; on 2 February Guillaume de Bioley pledges his domain to Peter of Savoy, a sum said to have been used to build or strengthen the castle (to be cross-checked).
1311. The lordship passes to the Corbières by marriage (to be cross-checked).
1359. The Goumoëns become lords of Bioley.
1403. Last mention of the town protected by the castle.
1416. Bioley has 20 hearths.
around 1438. Major building campaign at the castle, financed by a wealthy marriage of the Goumoëns (to be cross-checked).
1453. The parish has about 16 hearths.
1476. During the Burgundian Wars, Charles the Bold stays at the castle on his way to Murten; some sources give 1475 (to be cross-checked).
1536. With the Reformation the parish church of Saint-Etienne is attached to the parish of Donneloye.
1608. The lordship passes to the Erlach family of Fribourg.
1646. Jacques Guy d'Haudanger becomes lord of Bioley.
18th century. Jean d'Osterwald and his successors hold the lordship until 1770 and have the great interior staircase of the castle built (to be cross-checked).
1770. The Comte family of Moudon acquires the lordship, which is liquidated between 1791 and 1804.
1798. The municipality joins the district of Yverdon.
1825. Complete restoration of the church.
1890. Collapse of the castle keep (to be cross-checked).
1972. Roger Bär acquires the castle and begins its restoration (to be cross-checked).
early 1980s. New restoration of the church.
1998. The castle, privately owned, now houses the Jonas Foundation (Fondation Jonas) (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 Bioley-Magnoux
| 1416 | 20 hearths (households) |
| 1453 | 16 hearths (households) approximately, for the parish |
| 1764 | 153 |
| 1850 | 268 |
| 1900 | 293 |
| 1950 | 186 |
| 2000 | 169 |
| 2025 | 252 |
Historic sites in Bioley-Magnoux
Bioley-Magnoux Castle. Attested in 1244, it protected a small fortified town. The Goumoëns extensively transformed it from 1359, especially around 1438; Charles the Bold is said to have stayed there in 1476 (to be cross-checked). The Osterwald family added a great interior staircase in the 18th century. After the collapse of its keep in 1890, it was restored from 1972 and remains a private residence (to be cross-checked).
Church of Saint-Etienne. Former parish church, attached to the parish of Donneloye since the Reformation; it was entirely restored in 1825 and again in the early 1980s.
Remains in Bioley-Magnoux
Montelier necropolis. Early Medieval necropolis discovered at the place called Montelier, on the municipality's territory.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bioley-Magnoux »
- Commune de Bioley-Magnoux, « Notre histoire »
- Swisscastles, « Le château de Bioley-Magnoux »
- Wikipédia, « Bioley-Magnoux »
- Wikipedia (en), « Bioley-Magnoux »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Bioley-Magnoux
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