Lavigny

Origin of the name Lavigny

First mentioned in 1145 as «Lauiniaco». The name comes from the Latin personal name Lavinius or Labinius, with the suffix -acum, denoting an estate (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Lavigny

No founder is known. The site has been occupied since Roman times and in the early Middle Ages, as shown by Roman remains and cemeteries at Les Pommeries and La Vaudalle. A noble family of Lavigny is recorded from the 12th to the 17th century.

History of Lavigny

Roman period. Roman remains in the municipal area.

early Middle Ages. Cemeteries at Les Pommeries and La Vaudalle.

1145. First mention, as «Lauiniaco».

12th-17th century. A noble family of Lavigny is recorded.

1348. Mention of a confraternity of the Holy Spirit.

1416. The village has 20 hearths (households).

1537-1846. The Saint-Maurice church, previously attached to the parish of Etoy, belongs to the parish of Aubonne.

around 1753. Rebuilding of the castle, a classical building with two turrets on the lake side.

1798. Lavigny belongs to the district of Morges.

1824. The architect Jules Renevier builds the neoclassical Tronchin house, south of the castle (to be cross-checked).

1863. After a period attached to Saint-Livres, the church returns to the parish of Aubonne.

1906. Foundation of the Institution de Lavigny, a renowned neurological centre.

1972. The publisher Heinrich Maria Ledig-Rowohlt acquires the castle.

1974. Creation of a municipal council (legislative).

1979. Rebuilding of the Institution's hospital complex; adoption of a zoning plan.

1985. New municipal house.

1996. The castle becomes a residence for writers (Ledig-Rowohlt foundation).

2008. The new Vaud districts come into force; Lavigny remains in the district of Morges.

Population of Lavigny

Population of Lavigny

1416	20 hearths (households)
1798	265
1850	328
1900	287
1950	438
1980	490
2000	701
2025	1'108

Historic sites in Lavigny

Lavigny castle. Rebuilt around 1753, a classical building with two turrets on the lake side. Acquired in 1972 by the publisher Heinrich Maria Ledig-Rowohlt, it has housed since 1996 a residence for writers supported by the Ledig-Rowohlt foundation.

Saint-Maurice church. The village church, attached in turn to the parishes of Etoy, Aubonne (1537-1846) and Saint-Livres, before returning to Aubonne in 1863.

Institution de Lavigny. Neurological centre founded in 1906; the hospital complex was rebuilt in 1979.

Tronchin house. Neoclassical building erected in 1824 by the architect Jules Renevier, south of the castle (to be cross-checked).

Village listed in the ISOS. The whole village of Lavigny is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS).

Remains in Lavigny

Roman remains. Remains from the Roman period have been uncovered in the municipal area.

Early medieval cemeteries. Early medieval cemeteries have been discovered at Les Pommeries and La Vaudalle.

Legends of Lavigny

The «Grenouilles». The inhabitants, called «Renaillis», are nicknamed «Grenouilles» (frogs), from Vaud patois. The Gouille de Lavigny is moreover an amphibian breeding site of national importance.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lavigny »
• Wikipédia, « Lavigny (Vaud) »
• Wikipedia (EN), « Lavigny, Switzerland »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Lavigny

• Villars-sous-Yens (VD)
• Aubonne (VD)
• Etoy (VD)
• Saint-Livres (VD)
• Yens (VD)