Les Charbonnières

Origin of the name Les Charbonnières

The village is first mentioned in 1489. Its name is directly linked to the production and storage of charcoal, notably for the inhabitants of neighbouring Vallorbe, whose forges consumed it.

Founding of Les Charbonnières

The site of Les Charbonnières, where the mill of La Sagne, at which the people of Le Lieu had their grain ground, previously stood, was occupied by the Rochat family, who arrived shortly before 1489 and developed the land extensively. Part of the family later settled beyond the bridge of La Goille, forming the «Petites Charbonnières», while the original core became the «Grandes Charbonnières». The village is part of the commune of Le Lieu; it was its oldest commune fraction, whose existence is attested from the early 16th century.

History of Les Charbonnières

1489. First mention of the village; the Rochat family has just settled there.

early 16th century. Les Charbonnières form a commune fraction, the oldest in the commune of Le Lieu.

1514. The ironworks of Les Charbonnières start operating; they run until around 1740.

1674. The inhabitants build their first place of worship, a small chapel.

1780. A bell is installed in the chapel's small bell tower.

1833-1834. Construction of the village church, dedicated in 1834, which obtains a monthly service.

early 19th century. Birth of Vacherin Mont-d'Or in the Vallée de Joux; the cheese was sold at Les Charbonnières.

1882. The village hands over its church to the commune of Le Lieu.

1899. Opening of the Pont-Brassus railway line, which serves Les Charbonnières.

1900. On the night of 10 to 11 September a fire started by a paraffin lamp that fell into sawdust destroys 15 houses; the village is partly rebuilt by the contractors Poget and Fantoli.

2010. The commune fraction of Les Charbonnières disappears (to be cross-checked).

Historic sites in Les Charbonnières

Church of Les Charbonnières. Built in 1833-1834 and dedicated in 1834 to replace the chapel of 1674, it was handed over to the commune in 1882. A second bell was installed in 1896 thanks to a village subscription, the clock was replaced in 1892, the interior was restored in 1960 after a Christmas tree fire in 1957, and an organ replaced the harmonium in 1968. Its architect is said to be Henri Perregaux of Lausanne (to be cross-checked).

Musée du Vacherin Mont-d'Or. Located at Les Charbonnières, it presents a collection of objects and documents on the making of Vacherin Mont-d'Or, a soft cheese born in the Vallée de Joux in the early 19th century and protected by an AOP since 2003.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lieu, Le »
• Archives culturelles de la Vallée de Joux, « 48. Du côté des Charbonnières, un village pas tout à fait comme les autres »
• Archives culturelles de la Vallée de Joux, « 4. La chapelle et l'église des Charbonnières »
• Archives culturelles de la Vallée de Joux, « 1900. Un village brûle. Les Charbonnières, dans la nuit du 10 au 11 septembre »
• Archives culturelles de la Vallée de Joux, « 47. Bref historique des fractions de commune de la Vallée »
• Wikipédia, « Les Charbonnières »
• Vallée de Joux Tourisme, « Musée du Vacherin Mont-d'Or »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Les Charbonnières

• Le Pont (VD)
• Le Séchey (VD)
• L'Abbaye (VD)
• Le Lieu (VD)
• Les Bioux (VD)