Ursins

Origin of the name Ursins

The village is mentioned in 1008 in the form «in Ursingio», then «Ursi» in 1174; later come «Ursin», «Ursens» and «Orsens», before the form «Ursins» around 1500 (to be cross-checked). The name is linked to the Latin ursus, «bear» (to be cross-checked); the 1921 coat of arms bears bears' heads.

Founding of Ursins

Between about 50 BC and AD 250, Ursins was an important regional religious centre: a Gallo-Roman temple, two other sanctuaries and various buildings are attested, perhaps including a cult theatre or amphitheatre. The sanctuary is associated with the cult of Mercury and Mars Caturix (to be cross-checked). The temple survived thanks to its conversion into a Christian place of worship, which forms the nave of the present Saint-Nicolas church. No source consulted names a founder of the medieval village. Ursins was part of the lordship of Belmont, then, under Bernese rule, of the castellany of Belmont within the bailiwick of Yverdon. The village has remained essentially agricultural. The inhabitants are nicknamed the Pattâi, «the rag-pickers» in Vaud patois.

History of Ursins

around 50 BC - around AD 250. Ursins is an important regional religious centre, with a Gallo-Roman temple, two other sanctuaries and various buildings.

1008. First mention, «in Ursingio».

1174. The village appears in the form «Ursi».

Middle Ages. The ancient temple, converted into a Christian place of worship, forms the nave of the Saint-Nicolas church.

1389. Ursins has 7 hearths.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule Ursins is part of the castellany of Belmont, in the bailiwick of Yverdon.

1608. First excavations of the ancient site, by Guillaume Fabri.

1702. Work on the Saint-Nicolas church (to be cross-checked).

1798. Ursins joins the district of Yverdon, to which it belongs until 2007.

1908-1910. Excavations by Albert Naef; restoration of the church reveals the stones that marked the limits of the Roman building.

1921. Adoption of the coat of arms with bears' heads.

1947. Closure of the café.

1967. Closure of the school.

1977. Closure of the grocery shop.

2003. Aerial survey reveals two further temples and various buildings west of the village.

2008. Ursins becomes part of the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

Population of Ursins

Population of Ursins

1389	7 hearths (households)
1550	17 hearths (households)
1764	168 (25 hearths)
1803	147
1850	252
1900	201
1950	173
1970	127
2000	170
2025	227

Historic sites in Ursins

Saint-Nicolas church. Church whose nave is formed by the former Gallo-Roman temple converted into a Christian place of worship. The ensemble of church, temple and annex buildings is listed as a Swiss cultural property of national significance.

Remains in Ursins

Gallo-Roman temple. Temple of the fanum type: a cult room surrounded by a colonnaded gallery, on a podium reinforced by buttresses to the south and west, with the entrance to the east. Excavated from 1608 by Guillaume Fabri, then by Albert Naef in 1908-1910, it survived because it forms the nave of the Saint-Nicolas church.

Sanctuaries located in 2003. The 2003 aerial survey revealed two further temples and various buildings west of the village, confirming that Ursins was an important regional religious centre between about 50 BC and AD 250.

Cult theatre or amphitheatre. The old excavations brought to light annex buildings, perhaps including a theatre or amphitheatre linked to the sanctuary (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ursins »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Ursins »
• Archeoplus, « Ursins (VD) »
• Wikipédia, « Temple gallo-romain d'Ursins »
• Wikipédia, « Ursins »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Ursins

• Valeyres-sous-Ursins (VD)
• Orzens (VD)
• Gossens (VD)
• Gressy (VD)
• Oppens (VD)