Bressonnaz

Origin of the name Bressonnaz

The sources consulted give neither a dated first mention nor an etymology for the name Bressonnaz, which therefore remains unexplained. The name is also that of a stream, the Bressonnaz, which flows down from the Jorat and joins the Broye near the Bressonnaz bridge.

Founding of Bressonnaz

The sources consulted do not say when or by whom the hamlet was founded. Bressonnaz belongs to the municipality of Syens, south of Moudon, which comprises the village of Syens and the hamlet of Bressonnaz. In the Middle Ages, Syens formed a lordship with Rossenges and Bressonnaz. The place lies where the road from Lausanne to Bern crosses the Broye, where a bridge is recorded as early as 1528, and mills, a threshing mill and a sawmill were operated here. According to swisstopo's nomenclature, the name Bressonnaz also designates neighbouring places in the municipalities of Moudon (Bressonnaz) and Vulliens (Bressonnaz-Dessus and Bressonnaz-Dessous), while the locality Les Moulins de Bressonnaz lies in the municipality of Syens.

History of Bressonnaz

Middle Ages. Bressonnaz is part of the lordship of Syens, together with Rossenges.

15th century. The lordship of Syens, Rossenges and Bressonnaz belongs to the Cerjat family of Moudon; it passes in 1548 to Henri d'Erlach and Urbain Dupont, then in 1654 to Jean Antoine Zehender, before returning to the Cerjat family, which holds it until 1798.

1528. A first bridge over the Broye is recorded at Bressonnaz.

1698-1701. The bridge is rebuilt by Their Excellencies of Bern «afin de canaliser le trafic d'Allemagne» (to channel the traffic from Germany).

1702. Bern introduces a toll at the bridge: a bridge toll, also valid for the two other bridges of Bressonnaz.

1724. Sigismond de Cerjat (1690-1753), councillor in Moudon, becomes castellan and lieutenant of the bailiff; he bears the title of lord of Bressonnaz.

1780. A first mill operates at Bressonnaz; a second follows in 1803. A threshing mill and a sawmill are also operated here.

1898. The Bressonnaz bridge is modernised and widened to allow the tramway to pass.

late 19th century. The Cerjat family keeps ownership of the Bressonnaz estate until this time.

2008. The municipality of Syens, and therefore Bressonnaz, becomes part of the Broye-Vully district, which comes into operation on 1 January.

Historic sites in Bressonnaz

Pont de Bressonnaz. Stone bridge about 50 metres long, crossing the Broye with three semicircular arches. Rebuilt by Bern in 1698-1701 on the road from Lausanne to Bern, it was widened in 1898 for the tramway. The Inventory of Historical Traffic Routes in Switzerland rates it of national importance.

Les Moulins de Bressonnaz. Locality in the municipality of Syens according to swisstopo. Bressonnaz had two mills, operating from 1780 and from 1803, as well as a threshing mill and a sawmill.

Remains in Bressonnaz

Tramway rails. Rails of the former tramway remain visible under the asphalt of the Bressonnaz bridge, which was widened in 1898 for the tram.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Syens »
• Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), VD 7.4.1, « Pont de Bressonnaz »
• Musées lausannois (MUSERIS), fiche « Sigismond de Cerjat »
• Wikipédia, « Bressonnaz » (cours d'eau)
• swisstopo, geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux « Bressonnaz »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »

Other villages near Bressonnaz

• Syens (VD)
• Chavannes-sur-Moudon (VD)
• Rossenges (VD)
• Moudon (VD)
• Hermenches (VD)