Nyon

Origin of the name Nyon

The name comes from the Celtic "Noviodunon", meaning "new fortress". It appears in late Antiquity in the phrase "civitas Equestrium id est Noiodunus" (the city of the Equestres, that is Noviodunum), then in the forms "Neveduni" (1236) and "Nyons" (1292); the old German name is "Neuss".

Founding of Nyon

Nyon was founded by Rome. Between 46 and 44 BC Julius Caesar created the Colonia Iulia Equestris to settle former cavalrymen of his army; the town received a forum, a basilica and later an amphitheatre. Occupation continued into the early Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages the town first belonged to the lords of Prangins, then passed in 1293 to Savoy (Amadeus V and his brother Louis), which made it one of the towns of Savoyard Vaud.

History of Nyon

46-44 BC. Julius Caesar founds the Colonia Iulia Equestris, a colony of cavalry veterans.

late Antiquity. The town is described as "civitas Equestrium id est Noiodunus".

5th-8th century. Continuous occupation of the site during the Christian early Middle Ages.

1236. The name appears in the form "Neveduni".

1272. First mention of the castle.

1286-1350. A mint of the barons of Vaud operates in Nyon.

1293. The town, until then held by the lords of Prangins, passes to Savoy (Amadeus V and Louis I of Vaud).

1412. The town has 160 hearths (households).

1536. Taken without resistance by the Bernese; Nyon becomes the seat of a bailiwick until 1798.

1764. The town has 1'734 inhabitants.

1781-1813. Operation of the porcelain factory founded by Jacob Dortu and Ferdinand Müller.

1798. Nyon becomes a district capital.

1858. Opening of the Lausanne-Geneva railway line.

1916. Opening of the Nyon-Saint-Cergue-Morez line (terminating at La Cure since 1958).

1958. Three Roman columns from the forum are re-erected on the Esplanade des Marronniers.

1976. Creation of the Paléo Festival.

1979. Opening of the Roman Museum.

1995. UEFA moves its headquarters to Nyon.

1996. Discovery of the Roman amphitheatre.

2000. The town has 16'182 inhabitants.

Population of Nyon

Population of Nyon

1412	160 hearths (households)
1550	151 hearths (households)
1764	1'734
1850	2'471
1900	4'882
1950	6'064
2000	16'182
2025	23'732

Historic sites in Nyon

Nyon Castle. Mentioned from 1272 and remodelled by the Savoyards, seat of the Bernese bailiffs from 1536 to 1798, it now houses the history museum and a collection of Nyon porcelain.

Roman Museum. Opened in 1979 on the remains of the forum basilica, it presents the history of the Colonia Iulia Equestris.

Roman columns. Three columns from the ancient forum were re-erected in 1958 on the Esplanade des Marronniers, overlooking the lake.

Musée du Léman. Museum devoted to Lake Geneva, its navigation and its natural life.

Remains in Nyon

Forum, basilica and amphitheatre of the Colonia Iulia Equestris. The remains of the colony founded by Caesar (forum, basilica) are partly visible at the Roman Museum; the amphitheatre, discovered in 1996, confirms the importance of the ancient town, one of the main Roman colonies on Swiss territory.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Nyon (commune) »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vaud »
• Wikipédia FR, « Nyon »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Nyon

• Prangins (VD)
• Bénex (VD)
• Promenthoux (VD)
• Eysins (VD)
• Duillier (VD)