Gimel
Origin of the name Gimel
First written mention between 979 and 993 as «Gemella». The origin of the name is not explained by the sources consulted. The inhabitants are called the Gimelans; their nickname is «lè Dzemelan», the Twins in Vaud patois.
Founding of Gimel
The area was occupied long before the first written records: cup-marked stones, Bronze Age remains, La Tène graves, Roman remains and an early medieval cemetery at Bauloz have been found there. No source consulted says who founded the village or when. In the Middle Ages Gimel depended on the lordship of Aubonne; its church of Saint-Pierre dates from the 12th century and became the centre of a parish extending to the neighbouring villages.
History of Gimel
Bronze Age. Bronze Age remains in the area, where cup-marked stones are also found.
Late Iron Age (La Tène). Graves from the La Tène period.
Roman period. Roman remains.
Early Middle Ages. Cemetery at Bauloz.
979-993. First mention of the place as «Gemella».
12th century. Construction of the church of Saint-Pierre.
before 1285. The church of Saint-Oyens becomes an annex of that of Gimel.
Middle Ages. Gimel depends on the lordship of Aubonne; part of the land belongs to the abbey of Saint-Maurice (to be cross-checked).
1536-1798. Gimel is incorporated into the Bernese bailiwick of Aubonne and has a court of justice; after the Reformation its parish includes Saubraz, Mont-sur-Rolle (until 1621), Essertines-sur-Rolle (until 1837) and Saint-Oyens.
17th century. Major alterations to the church of Saint-Pierre.
1764. The village has 421 inhabitants.
late 18th century. Gimel is granted two cattle fairs.
1798. Gimel becomes part of the district of Aubonne.
19th century. An alkaline spring makes Gimel a holiday resort.
1950. The population exceeds 1'000 inhabitants (1'028).
2000. The municipality has 1'449 inhabitants; agricultural (livestock farming), it sees rental housing zones develop.
2006-2008. The law on territorial division, in force from 1 September 2006, abolishes the district of Aubonne; the municipality becomes part of the district of Morges, effective 1 January 2008.
2025. In September the population of the three municipalities accepts the merger project of Gimel, Saubraz and Saint-Oyens; the Grand Council of Vaud approves the merger on 25 November.
2027. Planned entry into force of the merger on 1 January: the new municipality bears the name Gimel.
Population of Gimel
| 1764 | 421 |
| 1850 | 820 |
| 1900 | 797 |
| 1950 | 1'028 |
| 2000 | 1'449 |
| 2025 | 2'453 |
Historic sites in Gimel
Church of Saint-Pierre. 12th-century church, heavily altered in the 17th century; it was the centre of a parish including Saubraz, Saint-Oyens and, for a time, Mont-sur-Rolle and Essertines-sur-Rolle.
Alkaline spring. In the 19th century an alkaline spring makes Gimel a holiday resort.
Marchairuz road. The village, at the foot of the Jura, lies on the road climbing to the Col du Marchairuz.
Remains in Gimel
Cup-marked stones. Cup-marked stones, blocks bearing small hollowed cups, are among the oldest traces of human presence in the area.
Bronze Age, La Tène and Roman remains. The area has yielded Bronze Age remains, La Tène graves and Roman remains.
Bauloz cemetery. Early medieval cemetery discovered at Bauloz.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Gimel »
- Wikipédia, « Gimel (Vaud) »
- Journal de Morges, « La nouvelle commune de Gimel verra le jour suite à la fusion » (29 septembre 2025)
- Blick, « Vaud : le canton passe sous la barre des 300 communes »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
Other villages near Gimel
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