Echandens
Origin of the name Echandens
The name appears in 1164 in the form «Scandens» (also «Petrus de Schandens»), then «Scanneins» in 1165 and «Eschandens» in 1186. Its origin remains uncertain: probably a Germanic personal name («Scan» or «Scannius») followed by the suffix «-ingos», used in the region from the 6th century onwards (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Echandens
The area was occupied long before the medieval village: a Bronze Age settlement and finds, a La Tène cemetery, and Roman and early medieval remains have been found there. No founder is known. In the Middle Ages the lordship was shared between the chapter and the bishop of Lausanne: in 1196 the chapter of Lausanne held one half and the bishop the other. The municipality comprises the village of Echandens and the hamlet of Les Abbesses.
History of Echandens
Bronze Age. Bronze Age settlement and finds in the area.
Late Iron Age. La Tène cemetery.
Roman period. Roman remains, followed by early medieval remains.
1164. First mention of the place, in the form «Scandens».
1196. The chapter of Lausanne holds one half of the lordship; the bishop holds the other.
1228. Echandens is a parish.
1285. The parish is attached to that of Lonay.
16th century. The castle is built, around the middle of the century.
1536. At the Reformation, the chapter's share is handed over to the hospital of Morges.
1728-1729. Construction of the present church (dates 1727-1728 according to another source, to be cross-checked).
1798. Echandens becomes part of the district of Morges.
1811-1853. The cantonal powder mill, with two mills, is in operation.
1855. A station opens on the Lausanne-Geneva railway line.
1896-1907. Kohler chocolate factory.
1919. The Nestlé printing works settles in Echandens; in 1988 it passes to Roth & Sauter (Presses de la Venoge SA).
1957-1963. The writer Georges Simenon lives in the castle.
1960s. End of its mainly agricultural character; strong population growth thanks to the proximity of Morges, Lausanne and the motorway.
1978. The municipality buys the castle.
2025. The municipality has 3'116 inhabitants.
Population of Echandens
| 1764 | 210 |
| 1850 | 354 |
| 1888 | 299 |
| 1900 | 411 |
| 1950 | 477 |
| 1960 | 593 |
| 1970 | 1'080 |
| 1990 | 2'135 |
| 2000 | 2'085 |
| 2025 | 3'116 |
Historic sites in Echandens
Echandens Castle. Built around the middle of the 16th century, modernised in the 17th century (door keystone dated 1629), then remodelled in 1834-1835 by the architect Henri Perregaux. Georges Simenon lived there from 1957 to 1963. The municipality acquired it in 1978.
Reformed church. Church built in 1728-1729 (1727-1728 according to another source, to be cross-checked) to plans by the architect Guillaume Delagrange, restored in 1862-1863, 1901 and 1975.
Remains in Echandens
Prehistoric and ancient remains. The soil of Echandens has yielded a Bronze Age settlement and finds, a La Tène cemetery, and Roman and early medieval remains.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Echandens »
- Wikipédia, « Échandens »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Echandens
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