Corsier-sur-Vevey
Origin of the name Corsier-sur-Vevey
The name appears in 1079 as « Corise », when Emperor Henry IV gave these lands to the bishop of Lausanne; « Corsiacum » is then found in the 12th century. A mention of « Corciaco » in 908 is also reported (to be cross-checked). The name is thought to derive from the Roman gentile name Curtius. The municipality was simply called Corsier until 1953, when it took the name Corsier-sur-Vevey to distinguish itself from Corsier in the canton of Geneva.
Founding of Corsier-sur-Vevey
The oldest traces of occupation are graves from Late Antiquity; archaeological remains document a succession of religious or funerary buildings from the Late Roman Empire to the Carolingian period. In 1079 Emperor Henry IV gave these lands to the bishop of Lausanne, who kept his regalian rights there until the Reformation, while between 1090 and 1092 the territory became a fief of the Blonay family. Corsier was the centre of a great parish, formed before 1228, which also included Corseaux, Chardonne and Jongny until 1816. None of the sources consulted names a founder of the village.
History of Corsier-sur-Vevey
Late Roman Empire. Graves from Late Antiquity and the first religious or funerary buildings, which follow one another until the Carolingian period.
1079. First mention as « Corise »: Emperor Henry IV gives these lands to the bishop of Lausanne.
1090-1092. The territory becomes a fief of the Blonay family, the bishop keeping his regalian rights.
1228. The parish exists by this date at the latest; the church of Saint-Maurice is attested from 1228 or from 1413 depending on the source (to be cross-checked).
1284. The Blonay enfeoff part of the territory to the lords of Oron.
14th century. Several members of these families share the lordship.
1527. In April the court of Rome rules in favour of the clergy of Saint-Martin in Vevey against the gift of the church of Corsier to the chapter of Saint-Nicolas in Fribourg made by Pope Julius II.
1536. Bernese conquest and Reformation: Corsier is attached to the bailiwick of Lausanne and becomes the seat of the court of justice; the community is run by a council of six members.
1592. Construction of the parsonage, altered in 1764-1765.
1655. Construction of the country house that now holds the town hall.
1678. Construction of the Château du Châtelard, a manor house.
1783. The Café de la Place houses a tavern.
1798. Corsier joins the district of Vevey; after briefly belonging to the canton of Léman, it becomes part of the canton of Vaud in 1803.
1816. Division of the great parish: Corseaux, Chardonne and Jongny separate from Corsier.
1831. Construction of the Bellière toll house to plans by the architect Philippe Franel.
1892. The districts of l'Arabie, Plan-Dessous, Plan-Dessus, Sous-Crêt, les Crosets and the Faubourg Saint-Antoine are annexed by Vevey.
1900. The opening of the Vevey-Mont-Pèlerin funicular starts the village's expansion westwards.
1952. Charlie Chaplin settles at the Manoir de Ban.
1953. The municipality takes the name Corsier-sur-Vevey.
1972. Inauguration of a large school complex.
1977. Death of Charlie Chaplin at the Manoir de Ban; he is buried in Corsier cemetery.
1990. The Fenil industrial zone has since provided over 700 jobs (construction, mechanics, tobacco).
2008. New district boundaries come into force: Corsier-sur-Vevey belongs to the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut.
2016. Opening of the Chaplin's World museum at the Manoir de Ban on 17 April.
Population of Corsier-sur-Vevey
| 1764 | 689 |
| 1798 | 896 |
| 1850 | 1'096 |
| 1888 | 2'676 |
| 1900 | 1'195 |
| 1950 | 1'535 |
| 1960 | 1'871 |
| 1970 | 2'697 |
| 1980 | 3'103 |
| 2000 | 3'200 |
| 2025 | 3'458 |
Historic sites in Corsier-sur-Vevey
Church of Saint-Maurice. Church in the centre of the village, dependent in the 15th century on the parish of Saint-Martin in Vevey; its choir dates from the first half of the 15th century. It was renovated in 1753 and 1774. Its painted decoration, executed around 1420-1430 probably at the initiative of the House of Savoy, was restored in 1996; the stained glass windows are by Bernard Viglino (1958).
Manoir de Ban (Chaplin's World). House built around 1840 north-east of the village, where Charlie Chaplin settled in 1952 and died in 1977. Since 17 April 2016 it has housed the Chaplin's World museum. Cultural property of national importance.
Château du Châtelard. Manor house built in 1678, with a side tower dated 1705/66 (to be cross-checked), headquarters of the Fédération internationale des luttes associées (FILA) since 2007.
Parsonage and town hall. The parsonage, built in 1592, was altered in 1764-1765 and renovated in 1977. The town hall occupies a former country house of 1655.
Café de la Place. A tavern is attested here from 1783. Cultural property of national importance.
Former Bellière toll house. Toll building constructed in 1831 to plans by the architect Philippe Franel.
Monts-de-Corsier. Hamlet in the upper part of the municipality, which remained agricultural while the lower part was devoted to vines. The aviator Charles Lindbergh spent many summers here in a chalet he had built.
Remains in Corsier-sur-Vevey
Early religious and funerary buildings. Excavations have revealed a succession of religious or funerary buildings, from the Late Roman Empire to the Carolingian period, as well as graves from Late Antiquity, the oldest traces of occupation of the area.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Corsier-sur-Vevey »
- Inventaire fédéral ISOS, « Corsier-sur-Vevey »
- Wikipédia, « Corsier-sur-Vevey »
- swissinfo.ch, « Long-awaited Chaplin museum opens in Switzerland »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- geo.admin.ch, Répertoire des localités (swisstopo)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Corsier-sur-Vevey
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