Paudex

Origin of the name Paudex

First written mention in 1220 in the form « Paudais ». The municipality also cites the forms « Poudaix » and « Poudays » for the 13th century and explains the name by a patois word meaning « marsh » (to be cross-checked). The name is thought to be linked to that of the Paudèze (to be cross-checked), the stream marking the boundary with Pully. As « Pau » means « cockerel » in patois, the inhabitants' nickname, the canting arms of Paudex show a golden cockerel and the Paudèze. The inhabitants are also nicknamed « Peaux-d'âne » and « Rats Blancs » (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Paudex

None of the sources consulted names a founder. The Bochat estate is mentioned from 1233 and, in 1354, there were the Rive mill and several vineyards belonging to the monastery. A community in 1385, Paudex depended judicially and militarily on the bishop of Lausanne and administratively on Lutry, whose priory held several rights there. Initially linked to Pully, the place only obtained its own municipal authorities in 1721. A wine-growing village until the 20th century, it also lived from its coal mines and a glassworks before becoming a residential locality.

History of Paudex

Roman period. Date of the milestone from the reign of the emperor Antoninus Pius, found at Paudex in 1768.

1220. First written mention: « Paudais ».

1233. The Bochat estate is mentioned.

1354. Mention of the Rive mill and of several vineyards belonging to the monastery.

1385. Paudex is made a community; it depends judicially and militarily on the bishop of Lausanne, administratively on Lutry.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule Paudex is attached to the lordship of Lausanne; after the Reformation it is part of the parish of Pully.

1570. The Paudeysse quarry is worked for repairs to the church of Lutry and several buildings in Lavaux.

1709. The Greek prospector Eirini d'Eirinis obtains a concession for the Paudex coal, shared with Isaac de Loys, who founds the Houillière de Paudex and runs it until his death in 1733 (to be cross-checked).

1721. On 10 June Lausanne authorises Paudex to separate from Pully: the municipality obtains its own authorities.

1768. Discovery of the Roman milestone.

1771. Bern grants Captain Wagner, at La Verrière, the right to mine the coal; the Paudèze mines are worked from 1771 to 1870.

1798. On 30 January the municipality plants the liberty tree to mark the departure of the Bernese; it is incorporated into the district of Lausanne (1798-2006).

1799. First municipal executive, with Jean-Jacques Crousaz as syndic.

1858. Construction of the railway.

1894. Coal mining resumes, continuing until the Second World War.

1896. Arrival of the tramway; a school is built in 1903.

1966. A municipal council (Conseil communal) replaces the general council (Conseil général); the executive has five members.

1968. Inauguration of the municipal complex bringing together a school, an ecumenical chapel and a performance hall.

2008. Paudex joins the new district of Lavaux-Oron.

2014-2015. Redevelopment of the harbour.

Population of Paudex

Population of Paudex

1764	76
1798	149
1870	216
1950	453
2000	1'403
2010	1'387
2025	1'483

Historic sites in Paudex

Bochat estate. Estate mentioned from 1233, one of the oldest named places in the municipality.

Municipal complex. Inaugurated in 1968, it brings together a school, an ecumenical chapel and a performance hall.

Saint-Maire municipal vineyards. The only remaining vines of this village, which was a wine-growing place until the 20th century (0.6 ha).

Paudex harbour. Harbour on Lake Geneva, redeveloped in 2014-2015.

Paudèze viaduct. Railway viaduct of the former Jura-Simplon line crossing the Paudèze (to be cross-checked).

Remains in Paudex

Roman milestone. Roman road marker from the reign of Antoninus Pius, found in 1768 and displayed at the municipal hall. The municipality attributes it to the emperor Caesar Augustus (to be cross-checked).

Paudèze coal mines. Worked from 1771 to 1870, then from 1894 to the Second World War; the place also had a glassworks in the 18th century.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Paudex »
• Commune de Paudex, « Historique »
• Wikipédia, « Paudex »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »

Other villages near Paudex

• Pully (VD)
• Lutry (VD)
• La Conversion (VD)
• Belmont-sur-Lausanne (VD)
• La Croix (Lutry) (VD)