Maracon

Origin of the name Maracon

Name origin: first written mention in 1236 in the form « Montmarascon » (also spelt « Montimarascon » or « Montwarascon » depending on the transcription; to be cross-checked), then « Morascon » in 1287, « Monracot » in 1290, « Montracot » in 1292 and « Marascon » around 1588. The name means « marsh mount », from Latin mons (mount) and mariscum (marsh).

Founding of Maracon

The sources consulted do not say when or by whom the village was founded. At its first mention, in 1236, Montmarascon belonged to the lordship of Palézieux. In the Middle Ages the territory was divided between the lordship of Palézieux and the Champion family; links with the Billens family are recorded around 1302. The village's old coat of arms recalled these two houses: a lion's head for Palézieux and two silver cotises for the Billens. The municipality today consists of the village of Maracon, the village of La Rogivue, the hamlets of La Coudre and Very, and scattered farms; it borders four Fribourg municipalities (Châtel-Saint-Denis, Remaufens, Saint-Martin and Semsales).

History of Maracon

1236. First written mention, in the form « Montmarascon »; the place belongs to the lordship of Palézieux.

1287. The name appears in the form « Morascon ».

around 1302. Links with the Billens family are recorded.

1547. The Champion family sells its share of the lordship to Bern.

1557. Maracon is attached to the Bernese bailiwick of Oron, where it remains until 1798 (some sources give 1547; to be cross-checked).

around 1588. The name appears in the form « Marascon »; the place is part of the fief of Attalens.

1609. Casting of the bell still kept in the present church.

1798. With the Vaud revolution, Maracon joins the canton of Léman (Helvetic Republic) and the district of Oron.

1803. The village becomes part of the new canton of Vaud.

1822. Construction of the Reformed church in classical style, modelled on that of Villars-Tiercelin; it replaces an old chapel of Saint-Georges.

19 June 1949. The « Maracon crime »: two young girls from Semsales are found dead in a forest of the municipality; the case weighs on relations in the region for a long time.

1950. Choir furnishings and vestibule mosaic of the church by Moesching.

1979. Installation of the church's stained glass windows, by Kaiser and Schmit.

1 January 2003. Merger with the municipality of La Rogivue under the name Maracon.

1 January 2008. The district of Oron is abolished; Maracon joins the new district of Lavaux-Oron (territorial division law in force since 1 September 2006).

Population of Maracon

Population of Maracon

1900	398
1970	210
2025	565

Historic sites in Maracon

Reformed church. Built in 1822 in classical style on the model of the church of Villars-Tiercelin, it replaced an old chapel of Saint-Georges. It keeps a bell of 1609 and a communion table of 1822; the choir furnishings and the vestibule mosaic by Moesching date from 1950, the stained glass by Kaiser and Schmit from 1979.

La Rogivue. Village united with Maracon in 2003, known for its old name « Rubea aqua » (red water), said to come from the streams rising in the local peat soils. It has its own entry on this site.

Sources

• Commune de Maracon, « Histoire »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Maracon »
• Wikipédia, « Maracon »
• Wikipedia (allemand), « Maracon »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• geo.admin.ch, Répertoire des localités (swisstopo)

Localities of the municipality with a page

• La Rogivue

Other villages near Maracon

• Écoteaux (VD)
• Bussigny-sur-Oron (VD)
• La Rogivue (VD)
• Palézieux (VD)
• Chesalles-sur-Oron (VD)