Gilly

Origin of the name Gilly

The place is mentioned in 1179 in the form «de iusliaco», in connection with a gift of land to the abbey of Bonmont (context to be cross-checked), then in 1278 in the form «Gillie». None of the sources consulted explains the origin of the name.

Founding of Gilly

None of the sources consulted says who founded the village or why. In the Middle Ages, the monastery of Romainmôtier owned property in the territory of Gilly, where stood the castle of La Motte, a fortified house at La Dollaz and a castle at Vincy. At the beginning of the 14th century, Gilly depended on the lords of Rolle, then on those of Vincy, and finally on the lords of Mont. Gilly and Vincy marked out their shared pastures at that time. The municipality, essentially rural, lives from farming, wine-growing and fruit-growing.

History of Gilly

1179. First mention of the place, «de iusliaco».

1278. Mention in the form «Gillie».

late 13th century. The church is founded by the de Sallenove family.

1292. Destruction of the castle of La Motte.

early 14th century. Gilly depends on the lords of Rolle, then on those of Vincy, then on the lords of Mont; Gilly and Vincy mark out their shared pastures.

1530. The castle of Vincy is burnt by the Bernese.

1536. Bernese conquest: the village is part of the bailiwick of Morges until 1798; it has a court of justice and is governed by a council of eight members. After the Reformation, the church becomes a chapel of ease of Bursins.

around 1570. Largely rebuilt farmhouse of medieval origin on the former Rolaz property (to be cross-checked).

1798. Gilly belongs to the district of Rolle.

1839. Construction of the municipal inn «À l'Union» (to be cross-checked).

1858. Opening of the SBB station of Gilly-Bursinel.

1882. The old church is demolished to make way for the village square (to be cross-checked).

1883. A new church is built away from the village.

1922. Creation of the Pavillon de La Côte, a former sanatorium (to be cross-checked).

20th century. Despite the station and the Geneva-Lausanne motorway, Gilly remains an essentially rural municipality.

2008. Gilly, until then in the district of Rolle, becomes part of the new district of Nyon, created by the territorial reorganisation of 2006.

Population of Gilly

Population of Gilly

1764	402
1850	622
1900	646
1950	514
2000	768
2025	1'429

Historic sites in Gilly

Church. The church founded at the end of the 13th century by the Sallenove family became, after the Reformation, a chapel of ease of the parish of Bursins. It was rebuilt in 1883 away from the village.

Vincy. Hamlet of the municipality, seat of a medieval lordship. Its castle was burnt by the Bernese in 1530; the present castle of Vincy is an 18th-century manor house (to be cross-checked).

Castle of Saint-Vincent. Manor house on a site which very early included a church, the origin of the place name; entered in the cantonal inventory in 1993 (to be cross-checked).

Farmhouse of the former Rolaz property. Dwelling of medieval origin, largely rebuilt around 1570, with late Gothic features; listed as a cultural property of national importance (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Gilly »
• Wikipédia, « Gilly (Vaud) »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• swisstopo, map.geo.admin.ch (coordonnées)

Other villages near Gilly

• Bursins (VD)
• Tartegnin (VD)
• Vinzel (VD)
• Bursinel (VD)
• Le Vernay (VD)