Écoteaux
Origin of the name Écoteaux
According to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, the name Écoteaux is first attested in 1134 in the form «Escotaux». Another source (to be verified) places the first mention in 1154, in the form «Escotals», in a deed by which the bishop of Lausanne Amédée de Clermont confirms goods given to the abbey of Hautcrêt; the same source also mentions intermediate forms «Escothat» (1155) and then «Scotals» (1157), before the spelling settled on «Écoteaux» in the 19th century. An etymological hypothesis, to be verified, links the name to the expression «en les coteaux» («on the slopes»), designating a place located on hillsides, which matches the village's position on a foothill of the Prealps.
Founding of Écoteaux
No source mentions a founder or a precise founding act for Écoteaux. The earliest traces of occupation are those of a Gallo-Roman rural establishment (villa rustica) dating from the 2nd or 3rd century, uncovered by a farmer in 1991 between the village and the place called «les Bois»; they do not prove continuous habitation through to the medieval village. The place then appears as a place name in a 12th-century document (1134 or 1154 depending on the source, to be verified), indicating the existence of an already organized rural settlement at that time, without its earliest origin being known. From the 12th century, Écoteaux was part of the seigneury of Palézieux, sharing its turbulent fate until the establishment of the Bernese bailiwick of Oron in 1557.
History of Écoteaux
2nd-3rd century. Occupation of a Gallo-Roman rural establishment (villa rustica) on the territory of Écoteaux; the remains would only be uncovered in 1991, by a farmer, between the village and the place called «les Bois».
1134. First attested mention of the name, in the form «Escotaux», according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (another source places this first mention in 1154, in the form «Escotals», in a deed of the bishop of Lausanne Amédée de Clermont confirming goods given to the abbey of Hautcrêt; to be verified).
12th century. Écoteaux is part of the seigneury of Palézieux.
1337. The place has 36 hearths (households).
1557. Establishment of the Bernese bailiwick of Oron, of which Écoteaux is part until 1798.
1558. The place now has only 23 hearths.
1660. The castle of Écoteaux is already in ruins by this date, according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (to be verified).
1664. The village acquires a school, shared with the neighbouring village of Maracon.
1798. End of Bernese rule; Écoteaux is attached to the district of Oron, which it will only leave in 2006.
1842. Construction of the current school building, partly with stones from the former castle.
1872. The castle site, in the forest of Châtelard, as well as the hamlet of Very, come under the administration of the neighbouring municipality of Maracon.
1913. Opening of a cheese dairy in the village.
1955. Construction of a large communal hall.
1981-1984. Development of a leisure centre.
31 August 2006. Écoteaux leaves the district of Oron to join the new district of Lavaux-Oron.
1 January 2012. Écoteaux merges with Bussigny-sur-Oron, Châtillens, Chesalles-sur-Oron, Oron-la-Ville, Oron-le-Châtel, Palézieux, Les Tavernes, Les Thioleyres and Vuibroye to form the new municipality of Oron.
Population of Écoteaux
| 1337 | 36 hearths (households) |
| 1558 | 23 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 160 |
| 1798 | 196 |
| 1850 | 269 |
| 1900 | 306 |
| 1910 | 311 |
| 1950 | 271 |
| 1970 | 234 |
| 2000 | 331 |
| 2010 | 354 (another source gives 356; to be verified) |
| 2011 | 359 |
Historic sites in Écoteaux
The Écoteaux schoolhouse (1842). School building constructed in 1842, partly with stones from the village's former castle; it succeeded the shared school established with Maracon in 1664.
The hamlet of Very and the Châtelard forest. This area, which housed Écoteaux's former castle, has administratively belonged to the municipality of Maracon since 1872, although it remains linked to Écoteaux's history.
The large communal hall (1955). Built in 1955, it long served as a gathering place for the village's associative and communal life.
Remains in Écoteaux
Remains of the Roman villa (2nd-3rd century). Remains of a Gallo-Roman rural establishment (villa rustica), dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries, were discovered by a farmer in 1991, between the village and the place called «les Bois». They constitute the oldest known traces of occupation in the territory of Écoteaux.
Ruins of the former castle. Located at the place called le Châtelard, Écoteaux's former castle was already in ruins by 1660 according to the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (to be verified). Its stones were reused in 1842 to build the village's school building. The site, part of the municipality of Maracon's territory since 1872, retains only a few visible traces in the forest today.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, article «Ecoteaux»
- Wikipédia (français), «Écoteaux»
- Wikipedia (English), «Écoteaux»
- Commune d'Oron, page «Écoteaux»
Other villages near Écoteaux
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