Vich

Origin of the name Vich

Origin of the name: the village is mentioned in 1164-1165 in the form «de Vizo», and the hamlet of Clarens in 1164 in the form «Clareins». The name probably comes from a Latin family name of the Vitius type, that of a local landowner (to be cross-checked). The inhabitants are called Vichois.

Founding of Vich

None of the sources consulted describes the founding of the village. The site has been occupied since Roman times: the old Vy de l'Etraz crossed it from east to west, and numerous Roman objects have been found there. The «route des Bourguignons», today's route de Begnins, linked the lake with the Jura; this location, favourable to trade, made Vich one of the first centres of medieval metalworking in Vaud. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the lordship of Prangins.

History of Vich

Roman period. The old Vy de l'Etraz crosses the village from east to west.

3rd century. Date of a Roman milestone discovered at Vich.

4th century. Date of a hoard of Roman coins found at Vich.

11th century. The church of Saint-Martin is probably built.

1164-1165. First mentions of Vich («de Vizo») and Clarens («Clareins»).

1165. The lords of Begnins give the church of Saint-Martin to the abbey of Bonmont; the abbey of Payerne disputes this until 1205.

1263. The mills of Vich are mentioned.

early 15th century. The Burnier mill and the Pont-Farbel mill are known, at the two ends of the commune.

1536. Bernese conquest: the church becomes a Reformed temple and the village, which belongs to the lordship of Prangins, is incorporated into the bailiwick of Nyon (1536-1798). The parish, in the diocese of Geneva before the Reformation, includes Vich, Gland and Coinsins, as well as the daughter churches of Genolier and Givrins.

1591. A paper mill opens at Clarens, operating until 1874.

1764. Clarens, owned by Bonmont since the 12th century and later autonomous, is merged with Vich.

18th century. The community is run by a council of eight members.

1834. Genolier and Givrins cease to depend on the parish of Vich.

1906-1954. The Gland-Vich-Begnins tramway serves the village.

1928. The commune adopts its coat of arms: gules, a sheaf or between two bunches of grapes of the same, symbols of agriculture and wine-growing.

2001. Creation of the Toblerones educational trail along the Second World War anti-tank defences.

Population of Vich

Population of Vich

1764	149
1798	175
1850	228
1900	301
1950	240
1980	326
2000	734
2025	1'174

Historic sites in Vich

Church of Saint-Martin. Probably built in the 11th century and given to the abbey of Bonmont by the lords of Begnins, it became a Reformed temple in 1536. It was the centre of a large parish that included Gland and Coinsins.

Place Marcel Poncet. Village square named after the painter and glass artist Marcel Poncet (1894-1953), a friend of Hodler and Hermanjat, who lived in Vich. A bronze rooster, an early work by his son, the sculptor Antoine Poncet, seems to point towards the church.

Hamlet of Clarens. Owned by the abbey of Bonmont from the 12th century, Clarens was an autonomous community before being merged with Vich in 1764; a paper mill operated there from 1591 to 1874.

Mills on the Serine. Mentioned from 1263; in the early 15th century the Burnier mill and the Pont-Farbel mill stood at the two ends of the commune.

Remains in Vich

Roman remains. Numerous Roman objects have been found at Vich: a stele, statuettes, a 3rd century milestone and a 4th century coin hoard.

Toblerone line. Second World War anti-tank obstacles, presented since 2001 along an educational trail.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vich » (version italienne)
• Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, Alphabet des communes, « Vich » (2014)
• La Côte Tourisme, « L'ancien prieuré clunisien de Bassins » (Marcel Poncet)
• Wikipédia, « Vich »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Localities of the municipality with a page

• Clarens (Vich)

Other villages near Vich

• Coinsins (VD)
• Clarens (Vich) (VD)
• Begnins (VD)
• Gland (VD)
• Les Serraux (VD)