Ferlens

Origin of the name Ferlens

The village's name is attested in the form « Fellens » as early as 1180. No scientifically established linguistic etymology was found in the sources consulted. A local tradition links the name to the discovery, at the place called « La Rappettaz », of a spearhead that later became the municipality's emblem, which is said to have inspired so-called « canting » arms; this explanation still needs to be cross-checked.

Founding of Ferlens

No named founder has been identified for Ferlens in the sources consulted. The place is first mentioned in 1147, when it was part of the seigneury of Oron. The village long formed a single municipality with the neighboring village of Servion. Disputes, notably over the division of communal woods, led Ferlens to submit a petition to the Council of State, which resulted in its official separation from Servion, decided by the Vaud Grand Council on 3 June 1816 and effective in 1820. Ferlens thus became an independent municipality, before in turn merging, nearly two centuries later, with Carrouge and Mézières to form Jorat-Mézières in 2016.

History of Ferlens

8th century (to be cross-checked). Proposed dating for an ancient burial site located at the place called « La Rappettaz », near the village; this dating could not be confirmed with certainty.

1147. First known written mention of Ferlens, then part of the seigneury of Oron.

1180. The village's name is attested in the form « Fellens ».

1536. The Bernese conquest puts an end to the seigneury of Oron; Ferlens comes under the administration of the bailiwick of Moudon.

1557. Ferlens is attached to the bailiwick of Oron, newly recreated by Berne.

1825 to 1957. Excavations carried out in stages at the place called « La Rappettaz » uncover an ancient burial site containing human skeletons described as being of large stature, as well as a spearhead; the interpretation and precise dating of this site still need to be cross-checked.

3 June 1816. The Vaud Grand Council decides the administrative separation of Ferlens and Servion, until then united in a single municipality, following a petition addressed to the Council of State, notably regarding the division of communal forests.

1820. The separation between Ferlens and Servion becomes effective; the division of communal assets follows the population distribution, with Servion retaining 835 inhabitants and Ferlens 377.

1923. Ferlens adopts its own coat of arms, similar to that of Servion but with the bend replaced by a spearhead, in reference to the find made at the place called « La Rappettaz ».

30 November 2014. The population of Ferlens votes, together with that of Carrouge and Mézières, in favor of the merger of the three municipalities, with 64.8% of votes in favor.

1 July 2016. The merger comes into force: Ferlens loses its status as an independent municipality and becomes a locality of the new municipality of Jorat-Mézières.

Population of Ferlens

Population of Ferlens

1820	377
around 2015 (before the merger)	335
2025	389

Historic sites in Ferlens

Ferlens municipal house. The former municipal house, recognizable by its bell tower, stands near the village cemetery; the latter offers an open view of the Prealps and the Moléson.

Ferlens-Conseil hall. The former municipal council hall of Ferlens, today available for rent, recalls the time when the village had its own authorities before the 2016 merger.

The place called « La Rappettaz ». This place, located near the village, is associated with an ancient burial site discovered and excavated on several occasions between 1825 and 1957; it has remained in local memory as the site of a supposed battle, information to be cross-checked.

Remains in Ferlens

Burials at the place called « La Rappettaz ». Excavations carried out in stages between 1825 and 1957 uncovered, at the place called « La Rappettaz », human skeletons described as being of large stature, as well as a spearhead. The dating proposed by some sources, around the 8th century, still needs to be cross-checked. The spearhead found on site was later adopted as the emblem of the municipality of Ferlens, incorporated into its coat of arms from 1923.

Legends of Ferlens

The legendary battle of La Rappettaz. The unusual size of the skeletons discovered at the place called « La Rappettaz » has fed a local tradition according to which the site was the scene of an ancient battle. This interpretation belongs to oral tradition rather than to established archaeological confirmation and should be considered as needing cross-checking.

Sources

• Wikipédia (français) - Ferlens
• Commune de Jorat-Mézières - Identité de la commune
• Commune de Jorat-Mézières - Historique
• Christian Aebi, « Jorat-Mézières "bis" adopté avec logique et facilité », 24 heures, nos 279-49, p. 20-21 (source imprimée, citée par Wikipédia)

Other villages near Ferlens

• Mézières (VD)
• Servion (VD)
• Carrouge (VD)
• Vuibroye (VD)
• Les Cullayes (VD)