Tolochenaz

Origin of the name Tolochenaz

The name possibly appears around 961 in the form « Tolochina » (uncertain mention). The origin of the name is not explained by the sources consulted. The inhabitants are called Tolochinois, a name dating from 1956 that is said to have been suggested to the mayor of the time, who was thought to have « a slightly Chinese look » (to be cross-checked); they are also nicknamed Gorgolions, meaning weevils in the Vaud patois.

Founding of Tolochenaz

The site has been occupied since prehistoric times: pile dwellings of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age (Early and Late) stood at Le Boiron, and the cemeteries of the La Caroline gravel pit, south of the village, attest an almost continuous occupation from the second half of the 5th millennium BC to the 2nd century AD. There was also a small Roman settlement. None of the sources consulted says who founded the village. Around 961 the bishop of Lausanne gave the land of Tolochenaz to the cathedral chapter, which made it a prebend; the church was a parish church in 1228.

History of Tolochenaz

5th millennium BC. Beginning of the burials attested at the La Caroline gravel pit, which continue almost without interruption until the Roman period.

Neolithic and Bronze Age. Pile-dwelling villages at Le Boiron, in the Neolithic and then in the Early and Late Bronze Age.

Roman period. Small Roman settlement; the La Caroline graves are used until the 2nd century.

around 961. The bishop of Lausanne gives the land of Tolochenaz to the chapter, which makes it a prebend; probable mention « Tolochina ».

1228. The church of Tolochenaz is a parish church.

1416. The village has 15 hearths (households).

1453. It has only 7 hearths (households) left.

1536. With the Reformation, Tolochenaz is attached to the parish of Morges (except from 1846 to 1849).

1539-1798. Tolochenaz belongs to the Bernese bailiwick of Morges.

1785. Construction of the bridge over the Boiron de Morges, which bears a milestone from the time of Marcus Aurelius.

1798. Tolochenaz belongs to the district of Morges.

1882. Construction of the Riond-Bosson estate.

1890. Opening of a halt on the Lausanne-Geneva railway line.

1898-1940. The Polish pianist and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski lives at Riond-Bosson.

around 1930-1933. Construction of the present church by the architect Alfred de Goumoëns (the sources give 1930 or 1933, to be cross-checked).

1962. Opening of the Lausanne-Geneva motorway.

1963-1993. The actress Audrey Hepburn lives in Tolochenaz until her death; she is buried there.

1983. Creation of a municipal council (legislative).

1988. Opening of a building school, enlarged in 2003.

2008. Tolochenaz becomes part of the new district of Morges, created by the territorial reorganisation of 2006.

Population of Tolochenaz

Population of Tolochenaz

1416	15 hearths (households)
1453	7 hearths (households)
1764	99
1850	179
1900	217
1950	342
2000	1'646
2025	1'928

Historic sites in Tolochenaz

Church of Tolochenaz. Reformed church built by the architect Alfred de Goumoëns around 1930-1933 (date to be cross-checked). A church already existed in the Middle Ages: it was a parish church in 1228.

Boiron bridge and milestone. Bridge built in 1785 over the Boiron de Morges; it bears a Roman milestone from the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Riond-Bosson. Estate built in 1882, where the Polish pianist and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski lived from 1898 to 1940.

Grave of Audrey Hepburn. The actress Audrey Hepburn, who lived in Tolochenaz from 1963 until her death in 1993, is buried in the municipality.

Remains in Tolochenaz

La Caroline cemeteries. On the edge of the La Caroline gravel pit, south of the village, excavations uncovered about 200 features and graves, some containing hollowed-out tree trunks covered with slabs and placed in wide pits. They bear witness to an almost continuous occupation between the second half of the 5th millennium BC and the 2nd century AD.

Le Boiron pile dwellings. Remains of lakeside villages of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age (Early and Late) at Le Boiron.

Column of the former Morges gallows. A stone column survives in the municipality; it is the last remnant of the Morges gallows.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Tolochenaz »
• Wikipédia, « Tolochenaz »
• Wikipedia (EN), « Tolochenaz »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Tolochenaz

• Lully (VD)
• Lussy-sur-Morges (VD)
• Denens (VD)
• Chigny (VD)
• Saint-Prex (VD)