Villars-sous-Champvent

Origin of the name Villars-sous-Champvent

The name Villars-sous-Champvent comes from the Franco-Provençal term «villare», which designates a hamlet or small rural estate, supplemented by «sous» (below) and the name of the neighbouring village of Champvent, which geographically overlooks it. The place formerly bore the name «La Grange-de-Champvent», a name that underlines its old agricultural purpose, probably as a rural estate dependent on the seigneury of Champvent. A first written mention of the place is sometimes put forward for the year 1141 in the form «Vilar», but this attestation remains uncertain and this point would deserve to be cross-checked with another source before being considered definitively established.

Founding of Villars-sous-Champvent

The territory of Villars-sous-Champvent has been occupied since Roman times, as shown by the remains of an important Roman villa brought to light on its soil. No precise foundation by a named lord or religious order could be confirmed in the sources consulted: the place seems to have developed gradually, in the Middle Ages, as an agricultural hamlet (a «grange») dependent first on the seigneury and then on the land of Montagny. This land of Montagny was itself integrated as early as 1476 into the bailiwick of Grandson, where it remained until 1798. On the religious level, Villars-sous-Champvent belonged to the parish of Champvent, which adopted the Protestant Reformation in 1536. Under the Ancien Régime, the village did not have a communal council as such, but only an assembly of communiers that settled local affairs.

History of Villars-sous-Champvent

Roman period. Occupation attested by the remains of an important Roman villa (mosaics, baths) brought to light on the territory of the village.

1141 (uncertain mention). The place may perhaps appear for the first time in writing in the form «Vilar»; this dating remains uncertain and would deserve to be cross-checked with another source.

1476. The land of Montagny, on which Villars-sous-Champvent depends, is integrated into the bailiwick of Grandson.

1536. The parish of Champvent, on which Villars-sous-Champvent depends, adopts the Protestant Reformation.

1798. The village has 47 inhabitants. With the fall of the Ancien Régime and the creation of the canton of Vaud, it leaves the bailiwick of Grandson and joins the new district of Yverdon.

1850. 56 inhabitants recorded in the village.

1900. 56 inhabitants recorded in the village.

1908. Opening of a stone quarry on the territory of the village.

1950. 62 inhabitants recorded, the highest figure registered over the documented period.

2000. 45 inhabitants recorded in the village.

2006. The district of Yverdon, on which Villars-sous-Champvent had depended since 1798, is abolished as part of the reform of Vaud districts; the village joins the new district of Jura-Nord vaudois.

2010. 59 inhabitants recorded, just before the municipal merger.

1 January 2012. Villars-sous-Champvent merges with Essert-sous-Champvent and Champvent to form the new municipality of Champvent, in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois. The village loses its status as an independent municipality but keeps its name and its identity as a locality.

Population of Villars-sous-Champvent

Population of Villars-sous-Champvent

1798	47
1850	56
1900	56
1950	62
2000	45
2010	59

Historic sites in Villars-sous-Champvent

The site of the former Roman villa. The territory of the village has yielded the remains of an important Roman villa, including mosaics and baths, evidence of an ancient and prosperous occupation of this corner of the Bey valley.

The Bey Valley. Villars-sous-Champvent is nestled in this small agricultural valley, at the foot of the northern slope of the Vaud Jura, a setting that has shaped the village's rural character since its origins.

The stone quarry. A quarry was opened on the territory of the village in 1908, an extraction activity that marked the local economy for part of the 20th century.

The vineyard and fish farm. The village retains a diversified agricultural character, with the recent recreation of a small vineyard and a trout farm fed by a local spring.

Remains in Villars-sous-Champvent

Remains of the Roman villa. Excavations carried out on the territory of Villars-sous-Champvent have revealed the remains of a highly important Roman villa, with mosaics and thermal installations, indicating a high-status Roman rural estate.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS) : Villars-sous-Champvent
• Wikipedia (EN) : Villars-sous-Champvent
• Commune de Champvent, page Présentation (histoire des trois villages fusionnés)
• Henry Suter, Noms de lieux de Suisse romande, Savoie et environs (glossaire toponymique)

Other villages near Villars-sous-Champvent

• Essert-sous-Champvent (VD)
• Chamblon (VD)
• Champvent (VD)
• Valeyres-sous-Montagny (VD)
• Montagny-le-Corbe (VD)