Curtilles

Origin of the name Curtilles

First mentioned between 852 and 875 as «Curtilia». The name is said to be a diminutive formed on «cortilia» or «curticula», «small farm, small agricultural estate» (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Curtilles

The site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age; a milestone and a Roman villa are attested, as well as a Burgundian cemetery at the foot of the present castle. No source consulted names a founder of the village. Curtilles is one of the oldest temporal possessions of the bishop of Lausanne: two synods were held there in the 9th century, one between 852 and 875, the other in 867-868. A castle was built there, probably by Bishop Landri de Durnes around 1170, but the small town then lost importance to Lucens, protected by the castle built by Bishop Roger de Vico Pisano.

History of Curtilles

Bronze Age. A settlement is attested in the area.

Roman period. A milestone and a Roman villa are attested.

Early Middle Ages. A Burgundian cemetery occupies the site, at the foot of the present castle.

852-875. First mention, «Curtilia», on the occasion of a synod held there.

867-868. A second synod is held at Curtilles, a temporal possession of the bishop of Lausanne.

1050. Foundation of the parish church of Saint-Pierre.

around 1170. Construction of a castle, probably by Bishop Landri de Durnes.

late 12th century. The small town loses importance to Lucens, protected by the castle of Bishop Roger de Vico Pisano (dating to be cross-checked).

1491. Date of the oldest of the stained-glass windows preserved in the church; another dates from 1517.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule, Curtilles belongs to the bailiwick of Moudon and depends on the castellany of Lucens.

16th century. Major repairs to the church of Saint-Pierre.

1711-1718. The parsonage is moved to Lucens, but Curtilles remains a parish.

1798. Curtilles belongs to the district of Moudon, until 2007.

1838-1840. Construction of the school, closed since 1968.

19th century. Further major repairs to the church.

1950s. Agriculture gradually gives way to crafts and small trades.

2008. Curtilles becomes part of the new district of Broye-Vully.

2025. On 18 May voters approve the merger with Lucens (in Curtilles 106 yes, 31 no and 5 blank; in Lucens 727 yes and 87 no).

2027. On 1 January Curtilles is merged into Lucens; its name ceases to be that of a municipality and becomes that of a locality of the new municipality of Lucens.

Population of Curtilles

Population of Curtilles

1764	149
1850	428
1900	386
1950	283
1970	238
2000	277
2025	302 (municipality)

Historic sites in Curtilles

The castle. Castle whose origins probably go back to the bishop of Lausanne Landri de Durnes, around 1170; the present building is dated to the 16th century and listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance (to be cross-checked).

The church of Saint-Pierre. Parish church founded in 1050, with major repairs in the 16th and 19th centuries; it preserves stained-glass windows from 1491 and 1517. The church is listed as a heritage site of regional significance (to be cross-checked).

The old school. Built in 1838-1840 by the architects Henri Perregaux and Achille de La Harpe (to be cross-checked); closed since 1968.

Remains in Curtilles

Burgundian cemetery. A cemetery from the Burgundian period lay at the foot of the castle, bearing witness to the occupation of the site in the Early Middle Ages.

Ancient remains. A Bronze Age settlement, a milestone and a Roman villa are attested in the area.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Curtilles »
• Wikipédia, « Curtilles »
• Commune de Lucens, « Fusions de communes »
• Communes de Lucens et Curtilles, brochure explicative pour la votation du 18 mai 2025 sur la fusion
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Curtilles

• Lucens (VD)
• Sarzens (VD)
• Lovatens (VD)
• Oulens-sur-Lucens (VD)
• Prévonloup (VD)