Tévenon
Origin of the name Tévenon
Tévenon is the name of an alpine pasture, «situé au sommet du versant auquel s'adossent les quatre villages».[3]
Founding of Tévenon
Fontanezier, Romairon, Vaugondry and Villars-Burquin, in the Jura-Nord vaudois district, form Tévenon on 1 July 2011. Mauborget took part in the first talks, but its council rejected the plan. The commune's arms are «d'azur au mont de sinople, à la bande de gueules bordée d'or chargée d'une branche de verne du même». The villages lie on the southern slope of the Jura north of Yverdon-les-Bains, above Lake Neuchâtel, at average altitudes between 729 metres (Vaugondry) and 823 metres (Fontanezier). Forest covers more than half of the 1'426 hectares, and the highest point reaches 1'432 metres at La Joux Dessus. Under Bernese rule, Villars-Burquin and Vaugondry belonged to the métralie of Fiez and Fontanezier to that of Bonvillars, two sections of the bailiwick of Grandson. Romairon came under the lordship of Montagny. The area has long been called Pied-de-la-Côte, a name with no administrative status.[1][3][4]
History of Tévenon
1228. The church of Saint-Maurice at Champagne already exists. Vaugondry, Romairon and Fontanezier belong to it until 1897.[3][6]
1403. The name of Villars-Burquin appears for the first time.[3][6]
1415. Vaugondry is listed among the lands of the lordship of Grandson.[3][6]
15th century. Fontanezier, then called «Fontanisy», reportedly dates back to this century.[3][6]
around 1730. Vaugondry becomes a commune. Its land is not divided until 1844.[3][6]
1788-1825. Romairon belongs to the «Générale et haute commune de Champagne».[3][6]
1803. The «Haute commune générale de Champagne» brings together Fontanezier, Romairon and Vaugondry.[3][6]
1838. Farmers from Vaugondry, Fontanezier and Romairon found the Hauts-de-Champagne cheese dairy society.[3][6]
1844. Villars-Burquin finally separates from Fiez.[3][6]
1895. In October Villars-Burquin inaugurates its church, built by the architect Isoz.[3][6]
1897. A Reformed daughter parish is created at Villars-Burquin. It becomes an official parish in 1917.[3][6]
1910. Founding of the Cercle des amis du Pied-de-la-Côte.[3][6]
1975. The Romairon-Vaugondry school, built early in the century across the boundary of the two communes, is closed.[3][6]
2005. The general council of Romairon asks its executive to study a merger.[3]
2007. In June the four general councils adopt a declaration of intent to start the study.[1]
2009. The four general councils adopt the agreement simultaneously on 24 June.[1][3]
2009. On 27 September the voters of the four communes accept the merger, with 75.7 % yes and a 60 % turnout.[1][3]
2010. The Grand Council ratifies the merger by a decree of 15 June.[2][3]
2011. Tévenon becomes a commune on 1 July.[1][4]
Population of Tévenon
Sources and references: [3][5]
| 1900 | 565 (Villars-Burquin 302, Fontanezier 108, Romairon 95, Vaugondry 60) |
| 1950 | 341 (Villars-Burquin 184, Fontanezier 81, Romairon 43, Vaugondry 33) |
| 2009 | 696 (four merged communes) |
| 2025 | 857 |
Historic sites in Tévenon
Administrative centre. The administration of Tévenon occupies the communal office of Villars-Burquin. Some services are still offered in the former communes.[1][3]
Church of Villars-Burquin. Designed by the architect Isoz, it was inaugurated in October 1895. The official parsonage, built by the canton in 1953, has belonged to the commune since 2007.[3][6]
Battoir of Villars-Burquin. Built in the 19th century, turned into a community hall in 1981 and renovated in 2010, it hosts village events.[3][6]
Fountains of Fontanezier. The three fountains from the 1850s supplied the village with water until 1961. They have appeared on the arms of Fontanezier since 1927.[3][6]
Village of Vaugondry. A building regulation gave this small village a very uniform architecture. Three basins stand at its centre.[3]
Tévenon pasture. Lying at the top of the slope, it gave the commune its name. Farming families from Romairon used to spend one or two months there with their cattle.[3]
Sources
- État de Vaud, Conseil d'État, exposé des motifs et projet de décret no 256 sur la fusion des communes de Fontanezier, Romairon, Vaugondry et Villars-Burquin (novembre 2009)
- Grand Conseil du canton de Vaud, « Décret sur la fusion des communes de Fontanezier, Romairon, Vaugondry et Villars-Burquin » (15 juin 2010)
- Quentin Pellaux, brochure sur la fusion de Tévenon (Pomy, octobre 2010)
- État de Vaud, « Fusions de communes en chiffres (2025) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Commune de Tévenon, « Un peu d'histoire »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Tévenon
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