Puidoux

Canton of Vaud · District: Lavaux-Oron · 3'014 inhabitants (31.12.2025)

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Puidoux

Name origin: the name is recorded in 1134 as « Puidos »; another source gives a first mention in 1036 as « Poistdor » (to be cross-checked). Later forms are « Poidoux » (1134), « Poysdor » (1140), « Poidor » and « Poydoux » (1141), « Poydors » (1142), « Podoir » (1154), « Posdor » (1171), « Pouedour » (12th century), « Postdor » (1200), « Poydu », « Poedour » (1274) and still « Posdors » around 1710. The sources consulted do not explain the etymology of the name.

Founding of Puidoux

The sources consulted do not say when or by whom the village was founded. Remains of several Roman buildings and many graves from the early and high Middle Ages (at Sur Pierraz and in the chapel) show early settlement. In the 12th century Puidoux belonged to the Bishop of Lausanne, who set up a mayoralty there, later merged into that of Saint-Saphorin, and had a castle built. A Premonstratensian priory has sometimes been placed at Puidoux, on the shore of the Lac de Bret: this location is wrong, as the priory founded shortly before 1140 by the Abbey of Lac de Joux stood at Rueyres (municipality of Chardonne). The municipality, which stretches from Lake Geneva to the Jorat and the Haute-Broye, comprises in its lower part the village of Puidoux, the hamlets of Publoz and Cremières and the vineyards of Treytorrens and the Dézaley; in its upper part, on the foothills of Mont-Pèlerin, very scattered settlement, the Lac de Bret and the Mont-Chesau.

History of Puidoux

Roman period. Several Roman buildings, of which remains survive.

Early Middle Ages. Many graves, at Sur Pierraz and in the chapel.

10th-11th century. Construction of the Saint-Nicolas chapel.

1134. The name is recorded as « Puidos » (a mention as early as 1036 is given by another source; to be cross-checked).

12th century. Puidoux is a possession of the Bishop of Lausanne, who sets up a mayoralty and has a castle built.

around 1273. The Tour de Marsens, in the Dézaley, is held by the bishop (first mention in 1272 according to another source; its construction is sometimes placed around 1160; to be cross-checked).

1287. The Tour de Marsens passes to the Francoz family.

1356. The Tour de Marsens is ceded to Jean de Montsalvens, Count of Gruyère; it stays with the house of Gruyère until 1527.

1394. The Saint-Nicolas chapel is remodelled.

1536. Bernese conquest: Puidoux is attached to the bailiwick of Lausanne. Under the Ancien Régime the village forms one of the thirds of the great parish of Saint-Saphorin.

1734. In church matters Puidoux moves from the parish of Saint-Saphorin to that of Chexbres.

1746. The Saint-Nicolas chapel is enlarged.

1770. The remains of the episcopal castle are still visible.

1798. Under the Helvetic Republic, Puidoux joins the canton of Léman and the district of Lavaux.

1810. Puidoux separates from Saint-Saphorin and becomes an independent municipality.

1862. Opening of Puidoux-Chexbres station on the Lausanne-Bern line.

1867. François Naef buys the Tour de Marsens and renovates it.

1871. The Lac de Bret supplies Lausanne with motive power, then with drinking water from 1876.

1949. The vineyard is protected from building.

1953. Inauguration of the Crêt-Bérard Foundation, Maison de l'Eglise et du Pays.

1974. Opening of the A9 motorway, which encourages the development of an industrial and craft zone on the Verney plain.

1976. Restoration of the Saint-Nicolas chapel.

2007. Lavaux, which includes Puidoux, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

Population of Puidoux

612

1764

848

1798

1'186

1850

1'355

1900

1'428

1950

1'341

1960

2'339

2000

3'008

2023

3'014

2025

Historic sites in Puidoux

Saint-Nicolas chapel. Located in the hamlet of Vers la Chapelle, south of the village, it dates back to the 10th-11th century. Remodelled in 1394, enlarged in 1746 and restored in 1976, it now serves as a Protestant church. Excavations were carried out there in 1973-1974.

Tour de Marsens. Crenellated tower among the Dézaley vineyards, mentioned from 1272, whose builder is unknown. Held by the Bishop of Lausanne, then by the Francoz family (1287) and the house of Gruyère (1356-1527), it later passed to Jean de Plait, a burgher of Fribourg, then to the Clavel family. François Naef bought it in 1867; his family set up a foundation in 1969 to preserve it. It is listed as a cultural property of regional importance.

Lac de Bret. A lake of glacial origin, formed in a hollow closed by a moraine. Its waters supplied Lausanne with motive power from 1871, used by the Lausanne-Ouchy company, then with drinking water from 1876; the course of the Grenet was diverted in 1875 to feed it better. It remains a drinking water reserve for Lavaux and Lausanne.

Dézaley. Lavaux vineyard whose wines mainly bear the « Dézaley Grand Cru » name, one of the two grand cru appellations of Lavaux. Puidoux is part of the Lavaux site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.

Treytorrens. Winegrowing hamlet on the Lavaux slopes, listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

Crêt-Bérard. Foundation inaugurated in 1953, Maison de l'Eglise et du Pays: a meeting and retreat centre of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the canton of Vaud.

Remains in Puidoux

Roman remains and medieval graves. Remains of several Roman buildings have been found in the municipality, as well as many graves from the early and high Middle Ages, at Sur Pierraz and in the Saint-Nicolas chapel.

Episcopal castle (lost). Castle built by the Bishop of Lausanne, lord of Puidoux in the 12th century; its remains were still visible in 1770.

Sources

Localities of the municipality with a page

Treytorrens (Puidoux)

Other villages near Puidoux

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change