Corbeyrier

Origin of the name Corbeyrier

The name is recorded in 1261 as « de Cubiriaco ». Other forms are cited: « Curbirie » in 1251 and at the end of the 13th century, « Curbiriaco » in 1261, « Corberier » in 1577 on a Bernese map (to be cross-checked). The name is said to come from a Latin personal name followed by the suffix of Celtic origin « -acum », meaning « estate of » (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Corbeyrier

None of the sources consulted dates the founding of the village or names a founder. The municipality extends along the right bank of the Rhône, from the upper edge of the Yvorne vineyards to the large mountain pastures of the Eau-Froide and Petit-Hongrin valleys, and includes the hamlets of Boveau, Luan, Le Crettex and Vers Cort. A Savoyard possession in the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Bernese mandement of Aigle from 1475 to 1798, became an autonomous municipality in 1828 and in 1830 divided its jointly held property with Aigle and Yvorne.

History of Corbeyrier

1261. First reliable mention of the name, as « de Cubiriaco ».

1475. Bern conquers the Savoyard lands on the right bank of the Rhône; Corbeyrier belongs to the mandement of Aigle until 1798.

1584. A landslide starting from the Luan cirque sweeps down to Yvorne and destroys many buildings.

1798. Corbeyrier is attached to the Aigle district.

1828. The municipality becomes autonomous.

1830. Jointly held property is divided with Aigle and Yvorne.

1833. The parish, until then attached to Aigle, officially passes to Yvorne (in practice in 1838).

1880s. The Hôtel Victoria is converted; it later became a nursing home.

1902. A Catholic chapel is built.

1908. A Protestant chapel is built.

Population of Corbeyrier

Population of Corbeyrier

1764	225
1850	269
1900	264
1950	260
1990	369
2000	347
2025	456

Historic sites in Corbeyrier

Luan cirque and mountain pasture. Municipal mountain pasture; the 1584 landslide that swept down to Yvorne started from the Luan cirque.

Agittes pastures. Private pastures on which, together with the municipal pasture of Luan, the municipality's mountain farming relies.

Chapels. A Catholic chapel built in 1902 and a Protestant chapel built in 1908.

Hôtel Victoria. Former hotel converted in the 1880s, now a nursing home.

Fort de Champillon. Fort housing the Swiss Explosives Museum (Musée suisse de l'explosif).

Legends of Corbeyrier

Le Creux des Bourguignons. According to a local tradition, Burgundian mercenaries fleeing after the defeat of Charles le Téméraire at Morat in 1476 were plundering the region; the village's forebears are said to have massacred them and buried them pell-mell at la Praille, in a large pit called the Creux des Bourguignons.

The « Voleurs-de-Loup ». The inhabitants are nicknamed « Voleurs-de-Loup » (wolf thieves) or « Robaleux ». Tradition tells that a wounded wolf, hunted by hunters from Leysin, was killed at Corbeyrier and that the inhabitants refused to hand the carcass over to the hunters; a bounty was at stake.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Corbeyrier »
• Wikipédia, « Corbeyrier »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Corbeyrier

• Yvorne (VD)
• Roche (VD)
• Aigle (VD)
• Leysin (VD)
• Rennaz (VD)