Montilliez
Origin of the name Montilliez
Montilliez does not take the name of any of the four merged communes. The merger decree sets it in its very first article, and Dommartin, Naz, Poliez-le-Grand and Sugnens become names of localities. It comes from a place name at the centre of the four villages. The working group chose it so as to favour none of them, and the cantonal nomenclature commission then approved it.[1][2][6]
Founding of Montilliez
Dommartin, Naz, Poliez-le-Grand and Sugnens study a merger together from 2007. The voters of the four communes accept it in March 2010, with 81 % yes overall, and Montilliez has existed since 1 July 2011. Its arms are blazoned «Ecartelé d'argent et de gueules, à un épi de l'un à l'autre». The quarters take up the colours of the arms of the four villages. The municipality covers 1'194 hectares, between 640 and 880 metres above sea level, mostly fields, pastures and woods. Three of the villages long shared the same master: Dommartin, Naz and Sugnens depended on the cathedral chapter of Lausanne, and under Bern Dommartin remained the centre of a castellany that included Sugnens and Naz. Since the Reformation Sugnens had also been a branch of the parish of Dommartin. Poliez-le-Grand followed another path, in the bailiwick of Orbe-Echallens that Bern and Fribourg governed jointly.[1][2][3][4][6]
History of Montilliez
908. The earliest known mention of Dommartin dates from 18 July. Bishop Boson of Lausanne wins a dispute over forests there by an ordeal.[1][6]
12th century. The parish church of Poliez-le-Grand depends on the abbey of Montbenoît.[1][6]
1177. Sugnens is mentioned for the first time, then again in 1182.[6]
1180-1190. The chapter of Lausanne builds a fortified town at Dommartin. Destroyed by fire in 1235, it is rebuilt in stone until 1240, then declines: about forty houses in 1317, about ten in 1448.[6]
1213. A charter of the chapter of Lausanne dated 25 July mentions its property at Naz.[6]
1228. The church of Sugnens appears as a parish church.[6]
1536-1798. Under Bernese rule Dommartin is the chief place of a castellany formed with Sugnens, Naz, Peyres-Possens, Montaubion-Chardonney and Villars-Tiercelin. It supplies a quarter of the bailiwick's troops.[1][6]
1619. On 12 August Poliez-le-Grand abolishes Catholic worship, after decades of tension between Bern and Fribourg that began with the Reformation of 1531.[1][6]
1708. The name Poliez-le-Grand takes its present form.[1][6]
2005. With the prefect and the Association de la Région du Gros-de-Vaud, the four villages hold their first information meetings on mergers.[6]
2007. The study of a four-commune merger begins in September and lasts until December 2008.[1]
2009. On 23 November the general councils of the four communes adopt the merger agreement.[1]
2010. Simultaneous votes of 7 March: the voters of all four communes accept the merger.[1][3]
2010. The Grand Council adopts the merger decree on 12 October.[2]
2011. The commune of Montilliez comes into being on 1 July.[1][2][4]
Population of Montilliez
Sources and references: [5]
| 2025 | 1'856 |
Historic sites in Montilliez
Administrative seat. The communal administration has its seat in the locality of Poliez-le-Grand.[1]
Ruins of Dommartin castle. The castle tower, which became the emblem of the arms of Dommartin published in 1918, served as a prison until 1750. In 1798 a resident was allowed to take building material from it, and only ruins remain today.[1][6]
Church of Sugnens. On 11 May 1686 the spire was completed, and Pastor Fevot had a short poem placed in its finial. The church was altered again in 1791 and 1816, then restored in 1941.[1][6]
Communal inn of Poliez-le-Grand. On the Route de Bottens, it is listed in the inventory of cultural property as an object of regional importance.[7]
Sources
- État de Vaud, Conseil d'État, exposé des motifs et projet de décret no 292 sur la fusion des communes de Dommartin, Naz, Poliez-le-Grand et Sugnens (avril 2010)
- Grand Conseil du canton de Vaud, « Décret sur la fusion des communes de Dommartin, Naz, Poliez-le-Grand et Sugnens » (12 octobre 2010)
- État de Vaud, communiqué « Trois nouvelles fusions de communes réussies ce dimanche » (7 mars 2010)
- État de Vaud, « Fusions de communes en chiffres (2025) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Commune de Montilliez, « Histoire de la commune »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton de Vaud (état au 1.1.2026)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Montilliez
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