Vaulion

Origin of the name Vaulion

First mentioned in 1097 in the form «in Valle Leonis» («Vallis Leonis»), then «Valleuni» around 1160; «Petrus de Valiom» is still found in 1263 and the form «Vaulion» in 1316 (to be cross-checked; another source places the fixing of the present spelling in 1436). Despite the Latin spelling, the name does not come from the lion: it is formed from «val» («Vaux») and a term of Celtic origin denoting running water or a stream («glion», «lyaud»), i.e. «the valley of the stream» (etymology to be cross-checked with a dedicated linguistic source).

Founding of Vaulion

Vaulion was founded at the end of the 11th century as a place of refuge for runaway serfs. According to the communal history, they were serfs of the lord of Cicon, in neighbouring Burgundy, who had fled the tyranny of a lord named Wido and placed themselves under the protection of the monks of Romainmôtier. The prior of Romainmôtier took them in in 1097, under an agreement with the lord of Cicon, and the settlers set about clearing the area around the source of the Nozon. The village then belonged to the lordship of Romainmôtier, and later, in the Bernese period, to the bailiwick of Romainmôtier.

History of Vaulion

1097. First mention («in Valle Leonis»): the prior of Romainmôtier, through an agreement with the lord of Cicon, takes in runaway serfs from Burgundy, who clear the surroundings of the source of the Nozon.

around 1160. The place is mentioned in the form «Valleuni».

1396. Vaulion has 32 hearths (households).

1436. Prior Jean du Juys authorises the inhabitants to build a chapel, served by the parish priest of Romainmôtier.

1466. Date of the oldest bell now in the temple, known as «Justice», which came from the chapel of Saint-Julien.

1536. With the Bernese conquest of the Pays de Vaud, Vaulion passes to the bailiwick of Romainmôtier.

1544. Casting of the bell known as «Foi», which bears Gothic inscriptions of Catholic purpose.

1591. Attested presence of weavers, a sign of diversification of the village economy.

1606. Construction of a new place of worship.

1681-1850. Activity of nail makers; gunsmiths are active between 1730 and 1835.

1745. Fitting out of the parsonage by Daniel-Henri Vaucher.

1753-1755. Rebuilding of the temple to plans by the Lausanne architect Gabriel Delagrange.

1770. Beginning of the cutting of jewel stones (lapidary work) for watchmaking, which became the village's great speciality.

1798. Vaulion is attached to the district of Orbe; the municipality adopts the colours of the Helvetic Republic for its coat of arms.

1899. Two new bells are cast by J. Robert in Nancy.

1910. Construction of the school in the Heimatstil style.

1923. Adoption of the definitive form of the municipal coat of arms.

1967-1970. Restoration of the temple by the architect Claude Jaccottet; stained-glass window by Casimir Reymond in 1968.

1975. End of lapidary work, abandoned by the watch industry.

2006. Abolition of the district of Orbe; Vaulion joins the district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

Population of Vaulion

Population of Vaulion

1396	32 hearths (households)
1499	22 hearths (households)
1550	27 hearths (households)
1660	79 hearths (households)
1764	175 (hearths or inhabitants, to be cross-checked)
1803	1'145
1850	994
1870	926
1900	958
1920	1'051
1950	689
1970	403
1980	358
2000	437
2020	506
2025	500

Historic sites in Vaulion

The temple. Rebuilt in 1753-1755 to plans by the Lausanne architect Gabriel Delagrange, on the site of an older place of worship (chapel authorised in 1436, new building in 1606). Until the restoration of 1967-1970 it had an exceptional «widthwise» layout, with the pulpit on the north side and side galleries, as well as a door reserved for women separate from that of the men. It was restored in 1903 (Charles Borgeaud) and then in 1967-1970 (Claude Jaccottet) and houses a stained-glass window by Casimir Reymond (1968).

The parsonage. Fitted out in 1745 by Daniel-Henri Vaucher.

The school. School building of 1910 built in the Heimatstil style.

The street village. Vaulion is a street village set near the Nozon; the whole village is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance (ISOS).

The Dent de Vaulion. Summit of the Vaud Jura rising to 1'482,6 m, overlooking the village. Seen from Vaulion it looks like a mere heap of stones, whereas from the Vallée de Joux it presents an elegant silhouette that has made it a symbol of the valley; its summit offers a view over the Vallée de Joux, the Vaud Plateau and, in fine weather, Mont Blanc.

Remains in Vaulion

The old bells. The temple preserves two bells older than or contemporary with the Reformation: the «Justice» bell, dated 1466 and coming from the chapel of Saint-Julien, and the «Foi» bell, dated 1544, whose Gothic inscriptions bear witness to a Catholic purpose.

The 1755 inscription. The west door of the temple bears the date 1755 and the initials of the village masons, Olivier, David and Jean-Pierre Reymond, as well as those of the governor Jean-Pierre Michod.

Legends of Vaulion

The «Foueta-Lîvra». The inhabitants of Vaulion bear the nickname «Foueta-Lîvra», the «hare-whippers» in Vaud patois. According to tradition, a hare caught gnawing a cabbage was publicly whipped, then escorted back to the border.

The three hearts of the coat of arms. The coat of arms bears a V surmounted by three hearts; local tradition sees in them the expression of a virtue of love peculiar to the inhabitants.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vaulion »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vaud »
• Commune de Vaulion, « Historique »
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Vaulion »
• Wikipédia, « Vaulion »
• Wikipedia (EN), « Vaulion »
• Cloches comtoises, « Vaulion »
• Archives culturelles de la Vallée de Joux, « Dent-de-Vaulion »
• Patrimoine Vallée de Joux, « La Dent de Vaulion »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Vaulion

• Vallorbe (VD)
• La Praz (VD)
• Juriens (VD)
• Premier (VD)
• Envy (VD)