Chêne-Pâquier
Origin of the name Chêne-Pâquier
Pâquier is mentioned in 1462 as «Pascua», then in 1517 as «Pasquier»; Chêne appears in 1550 as «loz Chanoz». The name combines those of the two villages: «Chêne» refers to the tree (oak), and «Pâquier» is said to come from the Latin «pascuum», pasture (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Chêne-Pâquier
None of the sources consulted names a founder of the two villages. They belonged to the lordship of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne, whose castle, recorded from the early 12th century, stood in what is now the municipality of Molondin; this lordship also included Rovray, Arrissoules, Bioley-Magnoux, Molondin, Vuissens, Niédens-Dessus and La Mauguettaz. The church of Saint-Martin, a parish church in 1228, was transferred to Pâquier in 1667, where a new church with an elliptical plan was built. The inhabitants are nicknamed «lè z'Ano» (the donkeys).
History of Chêne-Pâquier
1107-1113. A man named Wiard, linked to Saint-Martin-du-Chêne, witnesses a donation to the priory of Saint-Sulpice VD: the first trace of the lordship (to be cross-checked).
12th century. Chêne and Pâquier belong to the lordship of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne.
1228. The church of Saint-Martin is a parish church.
around 1400. The castle of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne belongs to the Vernay family; around 1440 it passes to the d'Allinges (to be cross-checked).
1462. First mention of Pâquier, «Pascua».
1514. Henri de Cojonnex is lord of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne (to be cross-checked).
1517. Pâquier is mentioned as «Pasquier».
1536. In February, during the Bernese conquest, the castle of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne is spared (to be cross-checked).
1550. First mention of Chêne, «loz Chanoz»; there are 5 hearths in Chêne and 2 in Pâquier. The castle is abandoned around this time (to be cross-checked).
1556. Louis de Hennezel inherits the lordship and later settles in Chavannes-le-Chêne (to be cross-checked).
1667. The parish is transferred from Saint-Martin to Pâquier, where a church with an elliptical plan is built.
around 1712. Albert Müller, son of the lord of Nidau, acquires the lordship by marriage; he dies in 1751 (to be cross-checked).
1733. The Covet bridge is built.
1798-2006. The municipality is part of the district of Yverdon.
1818. A municipal school operates in Chêne.
1903. The church is restored, followed by another restoration in 1963-1973.
1924. Adoption of the coat of arms: argent, an oak tree vert.
1949. A new school building is constructed.
2008. With the district reform the municipality joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.
Population of Chêne-Pâquier
| 1550 | 7 hearths (households): 5 in Chêne, 2 in Pâquier |
| 1764 | 99 |
| 1850 | 224 |
| 1900 | 172 |
| 1910 | 193 |
| 1941 | 130 |
| 1950 | 145 |
| 2000 | 104 |
| 2025 | 172 |
Historic sites in Chêne-Pâquier
Oval church. Built in 1667 when the parish was transferred from Saint-Martin and attributed to the architect Abraham Dünz the Elder, it has a fully elliptical plan, very rare in Switzerland, and is regarded as one of the country's first churches designed for Protestant worship (to be cross-checked). According to the Latin inscription over the door, it is said to have been built with the stones of the old church (to be cross-checked). It keeps bells from the 15th and 17th centuries and was restored in 1903 and in 1963-1973.
Church and parsonage. The ensemble of the church and the adjoining parsonage is listed as cultural property of national significance (to be cross-checked).
Covet bridge. Bridge of 1733 over the Vaux stream, towards Chavannes-le-Chêne; an inn and a mill once stood nearby (to be cross-checked).
Remains in Chêne-Pâquier
Tour Saint-Martin (castle of Saint-Martin-du-Chêne). Square keep, the only remnant of the castle of the lordship to which Chêne and Pâquier belonged; it stands on Molondin territory. Spared by the Bernese in 1536, the castle was abandoned around 1550 (to be cross-checked).
Legends of Chêne-Pâquier
The mason and the carpenter. According to a local tradition, the oval shape of the church arose from a challenge between the mason and the carpenter, who considered the task impossible; the mason is said to have carved his initials on the building.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chêne-Pâquier »
- Commune de Chêne-Pâquier, « Histoire »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Chêne-Pâquier »
- Wikipédia, « Chêne-Pâquier »
- Wikipédia, « Temple de Chêne-Pâquier »
- Yverdon-les-Bains Région, « Temple of Chêne-Paquier »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Chêne-Pâquier
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