Trélex

Origin of the name Trélex

The name appears in 1145 in the form «Trailai». None of the sources consulted explains its etymology. The inhabitants are called Trélésiens; they also bear the nicknames «lè z'Ecoualle» or «Ecouèlli», said to refer to bowl makers in Vaud patois, and «Lanvalé» or «Lauvalè», the name of a woodcutter's hook in patois (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Trélex

No source consulted says who founded the village or when. The area was inhabited long before the first written mention: a menhir and a Gallo-Roman settlement are recorded here. A noble family of Trélex appears in the 13th century and, in the Middle Ages, the village belongs to the lordship of Gingins. Its church of Saint-Etienne is ceded in 1246 by the chapter of Geneva to the abbey of Bonmont. Lying on the road over the Col de la Givrine, Trélex becomes a relay for the Paris stagecoach, which supports many craftsmen (inns, forges).

History of Trélex

Roman period. A Gallo-Roman settlement exists in the area.

1145. First written mention, in the form «Trailai».

13th century. A noble family of Trélex appears.

1246. The chapter of Geneva cedes the church of Saint-Etienne to the abbey of Bonmont.

Middle Ages. The village belongs to the lordship of Gingins.

1536. Start of Bernese rule: Trélex is attached to the bailiwick of Nyon until 1798.

16th century. With the Reformation, the church becomes a chapel of ease of the parish of Gingins.

18th century. The community is run by a Council of thirteen members.

1764. The village has 199 inhabitants.

1798. Trélex passes to the district of Nyon.

1813-1815. The village suffers from the passage of Austrian troops.

1916. Opening of the station on the Nyon-Saint-Cergue line.

1968. The Lausanne-Geneva motorway brings population growth.

1976. A municipal Council of 30 members replaces the general Council.

2000. The municipality has 1'113 inhabitants; four fifths of the working population work elsewhere, mainly in Geneva.

2025. The municipality has 1'427 inhabitants on 31 December.

Population of Trélex

Population of Trélex

1764	199
1850	320
1900	305
1950	300
2000	1'113
2025	1'427

Historic sites in Trélex

Church of Saint-Etienne. Ceded in 1246 by the chapter of Geneva to the Cistercian abbey of Bonmont, it becomes a chapel of ease of the parish of Gingins at the Reformation.

Road over the Col de la Givrine. Trélex was a relay for the Paris stagecoach on this road; inns and forges lived from this traffic. Between 1813 and 1815 the village suffered from the passage of Austrian troops.

Trélex station. It opened in 1916 on the Nyon-Saint-Cergue railway, today the Nyon-Saint-Cergue-Morez line.

Municipal alpine pastures. The municipality owns four alpine pastures, located in Arzier, Saint-Cergue and Gingins.

Remains in Trélex

The so-called Givrins menhir. A menhir is recorded in the territory of Trélex. Known as the «Givrins menhir» or «Givrins stone», it stands in a wood west of the village of Givrins, but within the municipality of Trélex. It is 1.37 m high and was excavated in the early 1950s: stone blocks wedging the slab proved its human origin, but did not allow it to be dated. It is protected as a historic monument (to be cross-checked).

Gallo-Roman settlement. Traces of a settlement from the Gallo-Roman period have been found in the municipal territory.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Trélex »
• Wikipédia, « Trélex »
• Archeoplus, « Trélex, menhir de Givrins »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Trélex

• Givrins (VD)
• Gingins (VD)
• Genolier (VD)
• Duillier (VD)
• Grens (VD)