Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

Canton of Vaud · District: Morges · At the time of its merger in 2011, the village had a little over 450 inhabitants; it now forms one of the four localities of the municipality of Échichens.

Part of the municipality of Echichens

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

Origin of the name Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

The village's name first appears in 1171 in the Latin form Sancti Simphoriani, which literally means «[land] of Saint Symphorian». This form refers to Saint Symphorian of Autun, a 2nd-century Christian martyr who became the patron of the local parish. The modern name, Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, results from the gradual evolution of this Latin form, to which the mention of the river la Morges was added in order to distinguish the locality from other places of the same name in the canton of Vaud, in particular Saint-Saphorin en Lavaux, with which it should not be confused.

Founding of Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

No source makes it possible to attest a precise founding act or a single founder for Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges. The place took shape around a parish dedicated to Saint Symphorian, attested as early as the late 12th century, on a territory already occupied in Roman times. In the 13th century, the knight of Saint-Saphorin paid liege homage to the lords of Cossonay, which places the locality within the network of lay seigneuries of the medieval Pays de Vaud rather than within an organized ecclesiastical foundation. From 1536 until 1798, the village belonged to the Bernese bailiwick of Morges and was locally governed by a Council of Eight.

History of Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

Roman period. Remains of a Roman settlement are attested on the village's territory, without their exact nature having been specified in the sources consulted.

1171. First known written mention of the locality, in the Latin form Sancti Simphoriani.

13th century. The knight of Saint-Saphorin pays liege homage to the lords of Cossonay.

1416. The village has 20 hearths (households), according to a count from the period.

1536-1798. The locality belongs to the Bernese bailiwick of Morges and is governed by a Council of Eight.

1725. Construction of the present château, probably under the direction of the architect Guillaume Delagrange, on the initiative of General François-Louis de Pesmes de Saint-Saphorin.

1730. The plans of the château's outbuildings are drawn up.

1731-1732. Construction of the present Reformed church, on the site of the former parish church.

1737. Judith-Louise de Pesmes marries Gabriel-Henri de Mestral; the château estate passes to the de Mestral family, which will keep it for several generations.

1854. Discovery of Burgundian graves at the place known as Mont-Chuet.

1966. The engineer Georges de Mestral, inventor of Velcro, inherits the château estate from his father.

1974. The village population rejects the construction of rental apartment buildings, preserving the locality's agricultural character.

28 June 2009. The electorates of Colombier, Échichens, Monnaz and Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges approve by vote the merger agreement of their four municipalities.

9 September 2009. The Vaud Council of State adopts the decree ratifying the merger, subsequently transmitted to the Grand Council.

1 July 2011. Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges merges with Colombier, Échichens and Monnaz to form the new municipality of Échichens; the village loses its status as an independent municipality and becomes a locality of the new entity.

Population of Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

20 hearths (households)

1416

132

1764

216

1850

206

1900

186

1920

222

1950

381

2000

453

2009

Historic sites in Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

Château de Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges. Built around 1725 on the initiative of General François-Louis de Pesmes de Saint-Saphorin, on the remains of an earlier medieval stronghold. The building follows the French aristocratic model, with a projecting semicircular stair tower and a monumental doorway. Passed by marriage to the de Mestral family in 1737, it was notably inhabited by the engineer Georges de Mestral, inventor of Velcro, who inherited it in 1966. The château, classified as a cultural property of national importance, is surrounded by a 4.6-hectare vineyard.

Reformed church. Built between 1731 and 1732 on the site of the former parish church dedicated to Saint Symphorian, it carries on, on the spot, the religious presence attested in the village since the 12th century.

Remains in Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

Remains of Roman settlement. Remains of Roman occupation are attested on the territory of Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, testifying to a human presence well before the first written mention of the village in 1171. The sources consulted do not specify the exact nature or the detailed location of these remains, information that would deserve to be cross-checked.

Burgundian graves of Mont-Chuet. In 1854, graves attributed to the Burgundian period were discovered at the place known as Mont-Chuet, on the village's territory.

Sources

Other villages near Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges

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