Villars-le-Terroir
Origin of the name Villars-le-Terroir
The village is mentioned in 1228 in the form «apud Vilaret devant Gumoens», then in 1438 as «Villart le Terrioux». The name is said to combine Gallo-Roman «villare» (rural estate) with Latin «territorium» (territory) (to be cross-checked). In patois the village is called «Velâ-lou-Tèryâ».
Founding of Villars-le-Terroir
The sources consulted say neither when nor by whom the village was founded. An early medieval cemetery at the place called Sur le Châtelard attests to early occupation. Before 1228, Villars-le-Terroir formed a parish dependent on the abbey of Montbenoît, near Pontarlier; the abbey of Montheron owned the estates of Buron and Montandrey.
History of Villars-le-Terroir
Early Middle Ages. A cemetery is laid out at the place called Sur le Châtelard.
around 1150. A chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas is said to exist already (to be cross-checked).
before 1228. Villars-le-Terroir forms a parish dependent on the abbey of Montbenoît, near Pontarlier.
1228. First mention in the form «apud Vilaret devant Gumoens».
Middle Ages. The abbey of Montheron owns the estates of Buron and Montandrey.
1438. The village appears as «Villart le Terrioux».
1453. The parish becomes a chapel of ease of that of Échallens.
1475-1798. The village belongs to the common bailiwick of Orbe-Échallens, whose jurisdiction is shared between Bern and Fribourg.
1714. During the Corpus Christi feast, lightning strikes the church and kills eleven people sheltering under the porch (to be cross-checked).
1764. The village has 33 hearths (households), 29 of them Catholic.
1798. Villars-le-Terroir is attached to the district of Échallens, until 2006.
1811. A fever epidemic requires medical intervention by the State (to be cross-checked).
1847. Villars-le-Terroir becomes a parish again.
1908. Construction of the church of Saint-Nicolas, replacing the medieval chapel; it is restored in 1949, 1975 and 2009.
1929. Adoption of the municipal coat of arms (to be cross-checked).
1985. Agriculture still provides 74% of jobs (55% in 2005), but in 2000, 73% of the working population work outside the municipality.
2008. Villars-le-Terroir joins the district of Gros-de-Vaud, created by the new territorial division of Vaud.
2025. The municipality has 1'334 inhabitants on 31 December.
Population of Villars-le-Terroir
| 1764 | 33 hearths (households) |
| 1798 | 410 |
| 1850 | 543 |
| 1900 | 581 |
| 1950 | 547 |
| 1970 | 499 |
| 2000 | 637 |
| 2025 | 1'334 |
Historic sites in Villars-le-Terroir
Church of Saint-Nicolas. Built in 1908 in place of the medieval chapel, restored in 1949, 1975 and 2009. It has two pulpits, one Catholic and one Protestant, a feature now found only in the church of Assens (to be cross-checked).
Hamlets of Buron and Montandrey. Grand Buron, Petit Buron and Montandrey were estates of the abbey of Montheron in the Middle Ages.
Remains in Villars-le-Terroir
Cemetery of Sur le Châtelard. Early medieval cemetery at the place called Sur le Châtelard.
Legends of Villars-le-Terroir
The inhabitants' nicknames. The inhabitants, called Villardiers, are nicknamed «Molliets» (the wet ones, or lovers of good food), «Râpes» and «Noyés» (to be cross-checked).
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villars-le-Terroir »
- Wikipédia, « Villars-le-Terroir »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Villars-le-Terroir
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