Les Serraux

Origin of the name Les Serraux

Name origin: first mentioned in 1145 in the form « Sarraux ». Today the name is written Serraux or Serreaux (Serreaux-Dessus on the national map). None of the sources consulted explains its etymology.

Founding of Les Serraux

Les Serraux are now part of the municipality of Begnins, in the district of Nyon. None of the sources consulted describes how the locality came into being. It appears in 1145 as a lordship made up of Serraux-Dessus and Serraux-Dessous, when Guibert de Serraux confirmed a donation of property and tithes to the abbey of Bonmont. Les Serraux long formed a separate municipality, with a castle at Serraux-Dessus and a court of justice, before being united with Begnins. The date of this union differs between sources: 1616 according to some, 1767 according to others (to be cross-checked).

History of Les Serraux

1145. First mention (« Sarraux »): Guibert de Serraux confirms a donation of property and tithes to the abbey of Bonmont. The lordship comprises Serraux-Dessus and Serraux-Dessous.

1300. Vullierme becomes lord of Serraux (to be cross-checked).

Middle Ages. Jurisdiction over the territory of Begnins is shared between several lords, including those of Serraux-Dessus.

1480. Serraux-Dessous breaks away from the lordship and forms a separate fief.

1520-1828. The fief of Serraux-Dessous belongs to the Mestral d'Arruffens family, then passes to the Freudenreich.

1580. Serraux-Dessus belongs to the nobles de L'Harpe (to be cross-checked).

1616. Serraux-Dessus, fallen into ruin, is united with Begnins; the municipality of Les Serraux disappears.

1620. The Serraux-Dessus estate is acquired by the Stürler family (to be cross-checked).

1767. On 1 April, a bailiff's judgment rejects the attempt by the Stürler, owners of Serraux-Dessus, to make it an independent municipality. Other sources date the union of the municipality of Les Serraux with Begnins to 1767.

1819. The de Pourtalès family becomes owner of Serraux-Dessus (to be cross-checked).

1850. The estate passes by marriage to the Marquis de Ganay (to be cross-checked).

1908. Emile Matringe, master chimney sweep and roofer from Rolle, buys Serraux-Dessus, which has remained with his descendants ever since (1909 according to another passage of the same source, to be cross-checked).

Historic sites in Les Serraux

Domaine de Serraux-Dessus. Seat of the former lordship, where the castle and the court of justice of Les Serraux stood. Today it is a wine estate.

Winegrowers' houses of Les Serraux. Only two large winegrowers' houses remain from the former village; they form wine estates of 8.5 and 18 hectares.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Serraux »
• Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Begnins »
• Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale (ISOS), « Begnins » (2012)
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, Alphabet des communes, « Begnins »
• Domaine de Serreaux-Dessus, « Who we are, our history »
• Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, géoportail fédéral map.geo.admin.ch (noms locaux et limites communales)
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Les Serraux

• Luins (VD)
• Begnins (VD)
• Vinzel (VD)
• Bioley (VD)
• Vich (VD)