Essertines-sur-Yverdon
Origin of the name Essertines-sur-Yverdon
The village is recorded from 1180 in the form «Essertines». The name comes from the verb «essarter» or «esserter», to clear land: an «essart» or «essert» is a clearing won from the forest for cultivation. The municipal coat of arms, adopted in 1927, shows two uprooted tree trunks symbolising this «cleared» land.
Founding of Essertines-sur-Yverdon
The area was inhabited long before the medieval village: in 1979, two protohistoric settlement sites and two Roman establishments were identified in the trench of the Orbe gas pipeline, and an early medieval cemetery lies at the place called En Etannaz. The name shows that the village arose from forest clearance; none of the sources consulted names its founder. In the Middle Ages, Essertines was one of the oldest and most important prebends of the Lausanne cathedral chapter, which gradually bought up the rights of other owners there, without obtaining those of the priory of Saint-Maire.
History of Essertines-sur-Yverdon
Prehistory. Two protohistoric settlement sites, identified in 1979 when the Orbe gas pipeline was laid.
Roman period. Two Roman establishments, identified during the same works; Roman ruins had already been discovered at the Bois des Tours in 1828 (to be cross-checked).
Early Middle Ages. Cemetery at the place called En Etannaz.
1180. First written mention: «Essertines».
1219. Dispute between the Lausanne chapter and the lord Jordan de Belmont over the building of a castle on the site of the present church (to be cross-checked).
1228. The parish and its church of Saint-André are mentioned.
1315. At war with the chapter, the prior of Saint-Maire besieges the castle, lays waste to the village and takes 37 horses from the inhabitants (to be cross-checked).
1536. Bernese conquest: the Bernese, who take over the church property, make Essertines a castellany attached to the bailiwick of Yverdon.
1702. The new temple is built within the walls of the former castle.
1803. The municipality belongs to the district of Echallens.
1869. The school building is constructed, with a room for the council.
1963. A drilling on the heights towards Pailly strikes good-quality oil at a depth of 2'300 m, a first in Switzerland; the quantities are not enough for profitable extraction (to be cross-checked).
since 1970. The hamlet of Epautheyres develops into a residential area, while the rest of the municipality remains agricultural.
1979. The trench of the Orbe gas pipeline reveals protohistoric and Roman sites.
2008. With the new territorial division of Vaud, the municipality joins the district of Gros-de-Vaud.
Population of Essertines-sur-Yverdon
| 1764 | 354 inhabitants |
| 1798 | 431 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 648 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 672 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 607 inhabitants |
| 1970 | 451 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 663 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 1'183 inhabitants (31 December) |
Historic sites in Essertines-sur-Yverdon
The temple. Former parish church of Saint-André, mentioned from 1228. The present temple, rebuilt in 1702, was erected within the walls of the former castle.
The village, ISOS site. The village of Essertines-sur-Yverdon is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS).
The school building. Built in 1869, it also housed a room for the municipal council.
The hamlets. The municipality includes the hamlet of Epautheyres, on the Lausanne-Yverdon-les-Bains road, as well as Nonfoux and La Robellaz, which was called «Vilar Luczon» in the Middle Ages.
Remains in Essertines-sur-Yverdon
The former castle. The medieval castle, linked to the lordship of the Lausanne chapter, has disappeared; the temple of 1702 stands within its former walls. In 1315 it is said to have been besieged by the prior of Saint-Maire (to be cross-checked).
Protohistoric and Roman sites. Two protohistoric settlements and two Roman establishments were identified in 1979 in the trench of the Orbe gas pipeline.
Cemetery of En Etannaz. Early medieval cemetery at the place called En Etannaz.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Essertines-sur-Yverdon »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Essertines-sur-Yverdon »
- Wikipédia, « Essertines-sur-Yverdon »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Essertines-sur-Yverdon
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