Chesalles-sur-Oron
Origin of the name Chesalles-sur-Oron
The name of the village derives from the Old French «chesal», meaning «built place» (from the Latin casa, «house»). This etymology is illustrated by the canting coat of arms adopted by the municipality in 1923, gules three houses argent, two and one. The precise date of the first attested written mention of the place name could not be found in the sources consulted; this point is to be verified.
Founding of Chesalles-sur-Oron
The site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as attested by the discovery in 1885, at the place called «La Corbaz», of a complete skeleton surrounded by jewellery (fibulae, bracelets). In the Middle Ages, the place became organized around a fortified house: in 1330, the bishop of Lausanne enfeoffs the squire Perrod de Ferlens with the possessions, dues and other rights of this fortified house (the exact spelling of this squire's name is to be verified). The village then belongs to the seigneury of Oron. It is therefore not a founding planned by a single authority, but a gradual development under the seigneurial authority of Oron, then of Berne, before achieving municipal independence in 1812.
History of Chesalles-sur-Oron
Bronze Age. Settlement attested by the discovery, in 1885 at the place called «La Corbaz», of a complete skeleton surrounded by bronze jewellery (fibulae, bracelets).
1310. The place has 14 hearths (households), according to the seigneurial registers.
1330. The bishop of Lausanne enfeoffs the squire Perrod de Ferlens with the possessions, dues and other rights of the fortified house of Chesalles (name of the squire to be verified).
Middle Ages. The village is part of the seigneury of Oron.
before the Reformation. The inhabitants belong to the neighbouring parish of Saint-Martin.
1557-1798. After the Reformation, the village comes under the Bernese bailiwick of Oron and its parish is attached to Oron-Châtillens.
1680. The place has 20 hearths.
1764. 105 inhabitants recorded.
1798-2006. Chesalles is part of the district of Oron.
1812. Separation from Oron-le-Châtel (with which Chesalles had until then formed a single municipality): Chesalles-sur-Oron becomes an independent municipality.
1896-1907. The future General Henri Guisan, then commander-in-chief of the Swiss army, is said to have acquired an estate at Chesalles in 1896, which he farmed himself before leasing it out and then selling it in 1907; information resting on a single source consulted, to be verified.
1923. The municipality adopts a canting coat of arms (three houses) evoking the etymology of the village name.
2006. The district of Oron is incorporated into the new district of Lavaux-Oron.
1 January 2012. Chesalles-sur-Oron merges with Bussigny-sur-Oron, Châtillens, Écoteaux, Oron-la-Ville, Oron-le-Châtel, Palézieux, Les Tavernes, Les Thioleyres and Vuibroye to form the new municipality of Oron.
Population of Chesalles-sur-Oron
| 1310 | 14 hearths (households) |
| 1680 | 20 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 105 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 198 inhabitants |
| 1880 | 163 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 175 inhabitants |
| 1941 | 115 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 148 inhabitants |
| 1980 | 121 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 148 inhabitants |
| 2010 | 189 inhabitants |
| 2011 | 199 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Chesalles-sur-Oron
Fortified house of Chesalles (14th century). Fortified building first mentioned in 1330, when the bishop of Lausanne enfeoffs its possessions, dues and rights to the squire Perrod de Ferlens. Its exact location and current state of preservation could not be confirmed in the sources consulted; to be verified.
The «La Corbaz» site. Site where a complete skeleton, surrounded by bronze jewellery (fibulae, bracelets), was uncovered in 1885, attesting occupation of the site from the Bronze Age.
Agricultural estate of General Henri Guisan. According to the official website of the municipality of Oron, the future commander-in-chief of the Swiss army, Henri Guisan, is said to have owned and farmed an estate at Chesalles between 1896 and 1907. This information was found in only one source and remains to be verified.
Remains in Chesalles-sur-Oron
Skeleton and bronze jewellery from 1885. Archaeological discovery made at the place called «La Corbaz»: a complete skeleton, surrounded by bronze jewellery (fibulae and bracelets), constitutes the oldest known material evidence of human occupation of the site, dating back to the Bronze Age.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, article « Chesalles-sur-Oron » (Olivier Frédéric Dubuis, 2022)
- Commune d'Oron, page officielle du village de Chesalles-sur-Oron
- Wikipédia (français), « Chesalles-sur-Oron »
- Wikipedia (English), "Chesalles-sur-Oron"
Other villages near Chesalles-sur-Oron
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