Forel (Lavaux)
Origin of the name Forel (Lavaux)
Old forms: « Fores » in 1274, « Forel » in 1300. The hamlet of En Forel gave its name to the whole municipality; the etymology is not explained in the sources consulted. The place name Les Cornes-de-Cerf, recorded since the 17th century, probably owes its name to a stag trophy displayed in an inn (to be cross-checked). The coat of arms (1919, made official in 1929) combines a stag's antlers and a Gothic F; the Forellois are nicknamed the « Cerfs » (stags).
Founding of Forel (Lavaux)
In the 12th century the Cistercians of Hautcrêt began to clear and settle the area, which the bishop of Lausanne and the House of Savoy then disputed until it was bought back in 1300 by Guillaume de Champvent from Count Louis I of Savoy. The inhabitants long belonged to the parish and the large municipality of Villette, in Lavaux. The « Monts de Villette », farming hamlets of the uplands, became an independent municipality under the name of Forel in 1826.
History of Forel (Lavaux)
1140. Oldest document naming Forel: deed of gift by the bishop of Lausanne Guy de Maligny in favour of the abbey of Lac de Joux (to be cross-checked).
12th century. The Cistercians of Hautcrêt begin to clear and settle the area.
1274. First mention of the form « Fores »; settlement between Hugues de Palézieux and the monks of Hautcrêt concerning pastures.
1298. Pierre and Garnier de Palézieux cede the hamlet of Forel to Louis of Savoy (to be cross-checked).
1300. The area is bought back by Guillaume de Champvent, bishop of Lausanne, from Count Louis I of Savoy (for 600 Lausanne pounds according to another source, to be cross-checked).
14th century. The large municipality of Villette, to which the inhabitants belong, is incorporated into Lavaux.
1536. After the Bernese conquest the territory comes under the bailiwick of Lausanne.
16th century. Genon Chervet, an inhabitant of Forel, is convicted « of lechery, infanticide, witchcraft and evil spells » (to be cross-checked).
1598. Savigny and Forel together form an independent parish, separated from Lutry.
1798. Forel is part of the district of Lavaux; 815 inhabitants.
1824. The Grand Council accepts the division of the municipality of Villette into six municipalities, including Forel (to be cross-checked).
1826. The Monts de Villette become an independent municipality under the name of Forel; the same year a possibly Roman road is uncovered.
1837. A decree plans to create an assistant parish at Forel, which never materialises.
1869. Construction of the church at Les Cornes-de-Cerf, which still belongs to the parish of Savigny.
1929. The municipal coat of arms is made official by the Council of State (to be cross-checked).
1982. The syndic is henceforth elected directly by the people (to be cross-checked).
2008. Forel (Lavaux) joins the new district of Lavaux-Oron.
Population of Forel (Lavaux)
| 1798 | 815 |
| 1850 | 1'029 |
| 1900 | 1'053 |
| 1950 | 948 |
| 2000 | 1'704 |
| 2025 | 2'113 |
Historic sites in Forel (Lavaux)
Church of Les Cornes-de-Cerf. Built in 1869 in the administrative centre of the municipality. Planned from 1838 by the Lausanne architect Henri Perregaux and completed after his death under the direction of Louis Vuillemin; listed in the cantonal inventory in 1990 (to be cross-checked).
Chaufferossaz farm. Farm that belonged to Major Davel.
Hamlets of En Forel and Les Cornes-de-Cerf. The municipality groups many hamlets in four sections; En Forel gave it its name, while Les Cornes-de-Cerf houses the administration, the church and the schools.
Remains in Forel (Lavaux)
Ruins of a medieval castle. The ruins of a castle from the Middle Ages are still visible in the Petit-Jorat forest.
Possibly Roman road. A stretch of road, possibly from the Roman period, was uncovered at Forel in 1826.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Forel (Lavaux) »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Savigny » (version allemande)
- Wikipédia, « Forel (Lavaux) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
Other villages near Forel (Lavaux)
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