Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

Origin of the name Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

Name origin: the sources consulted give neither a dated early form specific to the hamlet nor an etymology; the origin of the name is not explained there.

Founding of Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

Châtel is not a municipality: it is a hamlet of the municipality of Essertines-sur-Rolle, in the district of Nyon. No founding charter is known and the sources consulted do not say who founded it. Its history is linked to that of the lordship of Mont-le-Vieux, whose castle stood below the hamlet of Châtel. After the destruction of the castle and the abandonment of the neighbouring town in the 15th century, the population was spread among the hamlets of the municipality (Essertines, Châtel, Bugnaux).

History of Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

1179. Mont-le-Vieux castle, located below the hamlet of Châtel, is known from this date; another source says it is recorded from the mid-12th century. Its first lords are the Cossonay-Prangins.

1293. The House of Savoy succeeds the Cossonay-Prangins at the head of the lordship of Mont-le-Vieux.

Early 14th century. The castle is strengthened with a semicircular tower.

1315. The subjects of Mont-le-Vieux castle obtain the franchises of Moudon.

1366. The Viry family succeeds the House of Savoy as lords of Mont-le-Vieux.

1475. In autumn the castle is burned during the invasion of the Pays de Vaud by Swiss troops; the neighbouring town is abandoned in favour of the hamlets.

1825-1828. The hamlets of Châtel, Roussillon and Bugnaux seek to break away from Essertines, without success (between 1825 and 1827 according to one source, a request of 1828 according to another).

1925. The municipality adopts a coat of arms whose three interlaced rings symbolise the union of Essertines, Châtel and Bugnaux.

Historic sites in Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

Hamlet of Châtel. One of the three inhabited places whose union is symbolised by the three rings of the municipal coat of arms adopted in 1925, together with Essertines and Bugnaux.

Remains in Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

Mont-le-Vieux castle. Castle located below the hamlet of Châtel, known since 1179, centre of the lordship of Mont-le-Vieux. Strengthened in the early 14th century with a semicircular tower, it was burned by Swiss troops in autumn 1475; the town that had grown up beside it was abandoned.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Essertines-sur-Rolle »
• Commune d'Essertines-sur-Rolle, « Vivre à Essertines-sur-Rolle » (Histoire)
• Inventaire fédéral des sites construits à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Bugnaux »
• Wikipédia, « Essertines-sur-Rolle »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Châtel (Essertines-sur-Rolle)

• Bugnaux (VD)
• Tartegnin (VD)
• Essertines-sur-Rolle (VD)
• Germagny (VD)
• Haute-Cour (VD)