Bofflens
Origin of the name Bofflens
First mentioned in 1007 in the form «in curte Bofflenis», then «Boflinges» in 1011; the present form «Bofflens» appears in 1049 according to one source, in 1087 according to another (to be cross-checked). The name is said to come from a Burgundian personal name, with the suffix «-ens» (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Bofflens
The oldest traces of occupation go back to the Iron Age: several Hallstatt-period burial mounds, discovered in 1869, and La Tène remains; early medieval necropolises have also been uncovered. None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village, whose name suggests a Burgundian origin (to be cross-checked). From the 10th century, Bofflens belonged to the royal estate of Orbe and to the monastery of Romainmôtier. In 1007, Odilo, abbot of Cluny, gave land in Bofflens to a man named Enguizon; in 1011, King Rudolph III of Burgundy ceded six houses in Bofflens to the monks of Romainmôtier, who from then on owned the whole village. The municipality, which includes a few isolated farms, has kept an agricultural and craft character. The inhabitants are called Bocanis; they are nicknamed the Billy-Goats («lè Bocan» in patois) and the Bird-Scrapers («lè Racllia-Osî»).
History of Bofflens
Iron Age. Hallstatt-period burial mounds and La Tène remains on the municipal territory.
Early Middle Ages. Necropolises.
10th century. Bofflens belongs to the royal estate of Orbe and to the monastery of Romainmôtier.
1007. First mention, «in curte Bofflenis»: Odilo, abbot of Cluny, gives land in Bofflens to a man named Enguizon.
1011. Mentioned in the form «Boflinges»: King Rudolph III of Burgundy cedes six houses in Bofflens to the monks of Romainmôtier, who from then on own the whole village.
1049. The present form of the name, «Bofflens», appears (1087 according to another source, to be cross-checked).
1393. Dispute between the people of Bofflens and those of Bretonnières over ownership of a forest.
1536. Bernese conquest: Bofflens belongs to the bailiwick and castellany of Romainmôtier until 1798; the village is run by the assembly of burghers.
1795. Construction of the communal house, combining the schoolmaster's lodging, two classrooms, a chapel with bell tower, a cheese dairy and the council chamber (to be cross-checked).
1798. Bofflens joins the district of Orbe, to which it belongs until 2007.
19th century. An apprenticeship school for carpenters and joiners exists in the village (to be cross-checked).
1869. Discovery of several Early Iron Age burial mounds.
1910. The municipality moves from the parish of Romainmôtier to that of Agiez.
1914. The church is built.
1930. Adoption of the municipal coat of arms, taking up that of Romainmôtier in memory of historical ties, with an ox head evoking livestock farming.
1962. Completion of the land consolidation.
1990s. At the start of the decade the municipality adopts a land-use plan.
2000. Joins the parish of Orbe-Agiez.
2008. After the district of Orbe is dissolved, Bofflens becomes part of the Jura-Nord vaudois district.
Population of Bofflens
| 1529 | 12 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 202 |
| 1850 | 332 |
| 1900 | 249 |
| 1950 | 193 |
| 1970 | 142 |
| 2000 | 157 |
| 2022 | 203 |
| 2025 | 201 |
Historic sites in Bofflens
Church of Bofflens. Built in 1914, shortly after the municipality moved from the parish of Romainmôtier to that of Agiez (1910).
Communal house and former school. The school building dates from the 18th century; the communal house of 1795 combined the schoolmaster's lodging, classrooms, a chapel with bell tower, a cheese dairy and the council chamber (to be cross-checked).
Village core. The village centre preserves typical farmhouses from the 17th to the 19th century; the whole village is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance.
Remains in Bofflens
Iron Age burial mounds. Several Hallstatt-period burial mounds, discovered in 1869, are the oldest known traces of occupation; La Tène remains have also been found.
Early medieval necropolises. Early medieval graves uncovered on the municipal territory.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bofflens »
- Wikipédia, « Bofflens »
- Wikipedia (de), « Bofflens »
- Wikipedia (en), « Bofflens »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Bofflens »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Bofflens
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