Épesses

Canton of Vaud · District: Lavaux-Oron · around 330 inhabitants before the 2011 merger (today a locality of Bourg-en-Lavaux)

Part of the municipality of Bourg-en-Lavaux

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Épesses

The name Épesses is thought to derive from the Latin «spissa» (dense, thick), which probably referred to a dense stand of spruce or fir trees that covered the site before it was brought under cultivation. The first attested written mention of the village appears in a document of 1453 in the form «Espesses». Some sources mention earlier forms, dated 1166 and 1228, but this information could not be cross-checked against the reference source and would deserve to be verified against primary archival documents before being regarded as established.

Founding of Épesses

Épesses was not "founded" in the sense of a deliberate creation on a precise date: the hamlet developed gradually during the Middle Ages as part of the development of viticulture on the Lavaux hillside. From the 11th-12th century, the bishops of Lausanne, who held authority over the region's large parishes, ceded land to Cistercian abbeys (notably Hautcrêt and Montheron) and to Benedictine houses, which cleared the slopes and developed terraced vine cultivation, supported by a demand for wine already old, inherited from Roman times and reinforced by Christianisation. The territory of Épesses itself belonged, in the Middle Ages, to the Benedictine priory of Lutry. Administratively, Épesses originally formed a quarter of the large parish and later of the general municipality of Villette. It was only in 1824, by a decree of the Grand Council of the canton of Vaud dividing the municipality of Villette, that Épesses became a distinct political municipality; its first communal authorities took office on 7 December 1826.

History of Épesses

Roman period. Traces of a Roman road and ancient coins are said to have been found on the municipality's territory, signs of occupation dating back to Antiquity; this information rests on only one source consulted and would deserve to be cross-checked against detailed archaeological data.

1079. The bishops of Lausanne receive authority over the region's large parishes, which included the territory of Épesses.

12th century. Cistercian abbeys (Hautcrêt, Montheron) and Benedictine houses clear and develop the Lavaux hillsides for viticulture; the territory of Épesses then belongs to the Benedictine priory of Lutry.

1166 / 1228. According to one source, the village's name would already appear in the forms «Espesses» (1166) and then «Spesses» (1228); this has not been confirmed by the Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse and would deserve to be cross-checked.

1453. First attested written mention of the village, in the form «Espesses».

1464. The inhabitants of Épesses obtain exemption from the taille (tax).

1536. Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud: Épesses is incorporated into the bailiwick of Lausanne, while continuing to form a quarter of the general municipality of Villette.

1766. The Saint-Jacques chapel of Épesses, until then a filial of Villette, is attached to the parish of Cully.

1798. Fall of the Bernese Ancien Régime; the territory comes under the Helvetic Republic and then becomes part of the canton of Léman (1798-1803), before becoming part of the canton of Vaud. Épesses is attached to the district of Lavaux.

1824. A decree of the Vaud Grand Council divides the large municipality of Villette; Épesses becomes an independent political municipality.

7 December 1826. Entry into office of the first communal authorities of Épesses.

1861 (according to one source; 1862 and 1864 according to another). Opening of the railway line(s) crossing the village (Simplon line, Lausanne-Vevey-Villeneuve), with the construction of a station at Épesses; the sources consulted do not agree exactly on the dates and the number of lines, which would deserve to be cross-checked.

2005. A first merger project for the Lavaux municipalities (Cully, Épesses, Grandvaux, Riex, Villette) is rejected in a popular vote.

2006. The district of Lavaux is dissolved; Épesses joins the new district of Lavaux-Oron.

28 June 2007. The Lavaux terraced vineyard, which includes the territory of Épesses, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

17 May 2009. The referendum relaunching the merger project of the five municipalities is approved in a popular vote.

1 July 2011. Épesses merges with Cully, Grandvaux, Riex and Villette to form the new municipality of Bourg-en-Lavaux; Épesses becomes a locality of this municipality.

Population of Épesses

243

1764

382

1850

419

1900

403

1950

381

1960

308

2000

332

2010

Historic sites in Épesses

Saint-Jacques chapel. A religious building constructed between the 14th and 16th centuries, originally a filial of the parish of Villette then attached to that of Cully in 1766.

Bovard House. A 15th-century building, listed as a protected cultural property, a witness to the village's old wine-growing architecture.

The Épesses terraced vineyard. Épesses lies at the heart of the Lavaux terraced vineyard, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 28 June 2007; the village, devoted almost exclusively to viticulture, also lends its name to a renowned Chasselas white wine appellation.

Épesses railway station. A stop on the line linking Lausanne to Vevey/Villeneuve, opened in the early 1860s, which crosses the terraced village.

Remains in Épesses

Traces of a Roman road and ancient coins. According to one source consulted, remains of a Roman road and ancient coins are said to have been found on the municipality's territory, which would indicate occupation of the site as early as Roman times. This information, based on a single detailed source, would deserve to be cross-checked against precise archaeological data (location, dating, scientific publications).

Sources

Other villages near Épesses

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