Savigny
Origin of the name Savigny
First written mention in 1224 in the form « Savignie », then « Savinie » in 1228 and « Savigny » in 1453 (to be cross-checked). The name probably comes from the Benedictine abbey of Savigny-en-Lyonnais, on which the priory of Lutry depended. Another explanation derives it from the Latin personal name Sabinius with the suffix -acum, « estate of Sabinius » (to be cross-checked). The inhabitants are the Savignolans, nicknamed « Bon-Ozî » (« good birds », the sparrowhawks in Vaud patois).
Founding of Savigny
No founder is known. The wooded territory was cleared from the 13th century onwards, first by settlers from Haute-Savoie and the valleys of Lombardy, later from the Bernese Oberland. Savigny formed a parish from 1228 but long remained part of the large municipality of Lutry, without a real village. The farmers of the plateau, living from crops, livestock and forestry, separated in 1823 from the winegrowers and wine merchants of Lutry to form their own municipality; only afterwards did a village core develop.
History of Savigny
1224. First written mention: « Savignie ».
1228. Savigny forms a parish with its church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.
13th century. The clearing of the territory begins, by settlers from Haute-Savoie and the valleys of Lombardy, then from the Bernese Oberland.
before 1494. The bishop of Lausanne Aymon de Montfalcon founds at Savigny a convent of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
1536. Secularisation of the convent; with the Reformation Savigny becomes a dependency of the parish of Lutry.
1598. Savigny becomes an independent parish again, together with Forel (Lavaux).
1789. On 17 May four schools (« régences ») are created on the initiative of the pastor Jean-Pierre Loys de Correvon, after a dispute with Lutry over their heating (to be cross-checked).
1815. Dean Bridel describes a « large and wild parish » without a village, where « the snow is so deep that one would think oneself in Siberia » (to be cross-checked).
1823. On 17 May the Vaud Grand Council decrees the division of Lutry into two municipalities, Lutry and Savigny; the new municipality belongs to the district of Lavaux until 2006.
1825. Signing of the act approving the final division by Landammann J. Muret (exact date to be cross-checked: 21 May or 25 January).
1835-1844. Construction of the Lausanne-Oron road; crafts and small industry settle there.
1885-1905. The Les Meguettes sandstone quarry employs 20 to 25 Piedmontese workers; its stone is used to restore Lausanne cathedral and the church of Saint-François in Lausanne (to be cross-checked).
1902. Opening of a tramway line.
1974. Opening of the A9 motorway; in the 1980s Savigny becomes a residential municipality of the Lausanne conurbation.
2005. The primary sector still provides 20% of jobs.
2008. Savigny is part of the new district of Lavaux-Oron.
2025. Celebration of the municipality's 200th anniversary (28 February and 1 March).
Population of Savigny
| 1550 | 179 |
| 1764 | 507 |
| 1821 | 925 |
| 1850 | 1'042 |
| 1900 | 1'072 |
| 1950 | 980 |
| 1980 | 2'339 |
| 2000 | 3'084 |
| 2022 | 3'418 |
| 2025 | 3'598 |
Historic sites in Savigny
Savigny church (Reformed church). Successor to the parish church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine recorded in 1228. Another source states that the present church was built in 1599 on the site of the former convent, rebuilt after a fire, given a bell in 1659 and restored in 1917 (to be cross-checked).
Hamlets of Mollie-Margot, La Goille, Le Martinet and La Claie-aux-Moines. Main hamlets of a municipality with scattered settlement, whose centre only formed after 1823.
Quarries of Nialin, Roussaz, Palaz and Les Meguettes. Molasse quarries worked in the 19th century for door and window surrounds and cornices sold from Lausanne to Montreux, and the Les Meguettes sandstone quarry (1885-1905) (to be cross-checked).
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (version allemande du Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse), « Savigny »
- Wikipédia, « Savigny (Vaud) »
- Le Courrier (Lavaux-Oron), « Commémoration du 200e anniversaire de la commune de Savigny », 6 mars 2025
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Savigny
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