Rennaz

Origin of the name Rennaz

Name origin: the village is mentioned in 1252 as « ad villam de rayna ». The name is said to derive from the Germanic personal name « Ragena » or « Raina », of an owner who held an estate there (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Rennaz

The sources consulted say neither when nor by whom the village was founded. The site was already occupied in Roman times, as shown by a milestone of 305/306 AD found at the Grange des Tille and other Roman remains. In 1252 Count Amadeus IV of Savoy included Rennaz in the franchises granted to Villeneuve. The village was long part of the community of Noville, with which it jointly managed woods and pastures, before becoming a separate municipality in 1834.

History of Rennaz

305/306. A Roman milestone is erected; it was found at the Grange des Tille.

1252. First mention as « ad villam de rayna »; Count Amadeus IV of Savoy includes Rennaz in the franchises of Villeneuve.

15th century. At the beginning of the century the Grand-Clos fortified house, originally owned by the Duin of Bex, is in the hands of the Bouvier family.

1476. Start of Bernese rule: until 1798 Rennaz is part of the governorship and mandement of Aigle (castellany of Noville).

1589. After the conspiracy of Isbrand Daux, the Bernese seize the Grand-Clos castle, which is then sold several times.

1765. The Grand-Clos castle is rebuilt to plans by François Franque.

1798. Rennaz joins the district of Aigle; from 1799 to 1803 it has a municipality and an administrative chamber.

1834. Rennaz separates from Noville and becomes a municipality.

1835. A school opens.

1840. The division of jointly held property begins; a dairy is set up around this date.

1902. The church is built.

1961-1970. An airfield operates on the municipal territory.

1980s. With the opening of the A9 motorway, the formerly agricultural village sees industrial, commercial and residential development.

2000. Three quarters of the working population are commuters.

2019. The Riviera-Chablais, Vaud-Valais hospital opens in the municipality.

Population of Rennaz

Population of Rennaz

1798	129
1850	161
1900	167
1950	227
2000	565
2025	935

Historic sites in Rennaz

Grand-Clos castle. Originally a fortified house of the Duin of Bex, in the hands of the Bouvier family at the beginning of the 15th century, it was seized by the Bernese in 1589 after the conspiracy of Isbrand Daux, then sold several times. It was rebuilt in 1765 to plans by the architect François Franque and turned into a classical residence.

Church of 1902. Rennaz belongs to the parish of Noville; its church was built in 1902.

Riviera-Chablais hospital. Since 2019 the Riviera-Chablais, Vaud-Valais hospital has been located in Rennaz.

Remains in Rennaz

Roman milestone of the Grange des Tille. Milestone dated 305/306 AD, discovered at the Grange des Tille; other Roman remains have also been reported in Rennaz.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Rennaz »
• Wikipédia, « Rennaz »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Rennaz

• Noville (VD)
• Villeneuve (VD)
• Roche (VD)
• Chessel (VD)
• Les Planches (VD)