Pailly
Origin of the name Pailly
The village is first mentioned in 1154, as «Parli» (form to be cross-checked). The origin of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Pailly
The sources consulted say neither when nor by whom the village was founded. Roman remains attest early occupation of the area. In the Middle Ages, Pailly formed a small lordship dependent on a junior branch of the Grandson-Belmont family; separated from the lordship of Belmont in the 13th century, it took the name Bourjod at the beginning of the 14th century, after the castle built south of the village. The church of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste, already mentioned in 1154, belonged to the abbey of Montheron and later to the chapter of Lausanne.
History of Pailly
Roman period. Roman remains bear witness to settlement of the area.
1154. First mention of the village, as «Parli», and of the church of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste, which belongs to the abbey of Montheron and later to the chapter of Lausanne.
12th-13th century. Probable construction of Bourjod castle, on a wooded rise south of the village (to be cross-checked).
13th century. The lordship of Bourjod, which includes Pailly, separates from the lordship of Belmont.
1330. Othonet de Belmont, first known lord of Bourjod (to be cross-checked).
14th century. The lordship passes to the Bossonens, then to the Billens, and in the second half of the century, by bequest, to Jean de Blonay (to be cross-checked).
1414. A document reports that Bourjod castle is falling into ruin (to be cross-checked).
15th century. The lords of Champvent, Jean de Vergy and his son Guillaume, own Bourjod (to be cross-checked).
1524. Bourjod passes to the Count of Gruyère (to be cross-checked).
1536. Bernese conquest: Pailly is attached to the bailiwick of Yverdon until 1798.
1553. The lordship passes to Claude Jocet of Yverdon, then from 1567 to the de Challant, de Martines and Perroy families (to be cross-checked).
Late 18th century. The church of Saint-Jean is rebuilt (to be cross-checked).
1798. End of Bernese rule; Pailly is first attached to the district of Yverdon, then from 1803 to that of Echallens, until 2007 (to be cross-checked).
1803. The village has 273 inhabitants.
1850. The municipality reaches 401 inhabitants.
1919. Adoption of the municipal coat of arms: «palé d'argent et d'azur, à la bande de gueules brochante et chargée de trois croisettes d'or», recalling the links with the house of Grandson.
1970. The population falls to 255 inhabitants.
2000. Pailly still has 20 farms but is also becoming residential; about three fifths of the working population work outside the municipality.
2008. Pailly joins the district of Gros-de-Vaud.
2025. The municipality has 575 inhabitants on 31 December.
Population of Pailly
| 1803 | 273 |
| 1850 | 401 |
| 1900 | 371 |
| 1950 | 337 |
| 1970 | 255 |
| 2000 | 389 |
| 2025 | 575 |
Historic sites in Pailly
Church of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. The village church, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, is mentioned from 1154; it belonged to the abbey of Montheron and later to the chapter of Lausanne. The present building is said to have been rebuilt in the late 18th century (to be cross-checked), partly with stones from Bourjod castle. The church is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.
Hamlets of Le Remble and Moulin Pacot. Besides the village, which lies on the left bank of the Sauteruz away from the Echallens-Yverdon-les-Bains road, the municipality includes the hamlets of Le Remble and Moulin Pacot.
Remains in Pailly
Ruins of Bourjod castle. The castle stood on a wooded rise between the Sauteruz and the Château stream, south of Pailly. Probably built between the late 12th and the 13th century, it was the seat of the lordship of Bourjod, which included Pailly and parts of Vuarrens and Vuarrengel. Already reported as falling into ruin in 1414, it decayed in the 15th century; what remained was demolished so that the stones could be reused to build the village church and dairy (to be cross-checked). The ruins are listed as a cultural property of regional importance.
Roman remains. Roman remains have been found in the municipal territory. The sources consulted specify neither their location nor their nature.
Legends of Pailly
The nickname «Mulets». The inhabitants of Pailly are nicknamed the Mulets (mules). According to a traditional explanation, the nickname comes from the village's role as a stopping place on old trade routes between Morges and Payerne, when merchants carried their goods by mule.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (version allemande), « Pailly »
- Wikipédia, « Pailly (Vaud) »
- Wikipedia (allemand), « Pailly VD »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Pailly »
- Swisscastles, « Le château de Bourjod »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Pailly
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