Villeneuve
Origin of the name Villeneuve
The place appears around 280 as «Penne Locos», a Roman station; in 1005 we find «in villa Compendiaco». The present name, «Villanova» (1217), then «in Villa nova Chillionis» (1254), simply means «new town (of Chillon)», referring to its foundation by Savoy.
Founding of Villeneuve
The site was inhabited in Roman times (station of Penne Locos, settlements at La Muraz and Le Clos du Moulin, necropolis at Valleyres). The present town is the «new town of Chillon», the first foundation of the House of Savoy in the region: around 1214 Count Thomas I of Savoy granted it a charter of franchises. It replaced the cramped harbour and toll at the foot of Chillon Castle. Around 1236 Aymon of Savoy founded the Notre-Dame hospital there for the poor, pilgrims and the sick.
History of Villeneuve
around 280. Roman station of «Penne Locos».
Roman period. Settlements at La Muraz and Le Clos du Moulin; necropolis at Valleyres.
1005. The place appears as «in villa Compendiaco».
around 1214. Count Thomas I of Savoy grants a charter of franchises to the «new town of Chillon».
1217. First mention of the name «Villanova».
around 1236. Aymon of Savoy founds the Notre-Dame hospital for the poor, pilgrims and the sick.
around 1395. The town has 170 hearths (households).
1476. Bernese conquest; Villeneuve remains under Bern until 1798.
1803. The town has 862 inhabitants.
1857. The railway links Villeneuve to Bex.
1861. The railway links Villeneuve to Lausanne.
1900. The town has 1'751 inhabitants.
2000. The town has 4'180 inhabitants.
Population of Villeneuve
| around 1395 | 170 hearths (households) |
| 1407 | 113 hearths (households) |
| 1803 | 862 |
| 1850 | 1'161 |
| 1900 | 1'751 |
| 1950 | 1'989 |
| 1970 | 3'705 |
| 2000 | 4'180 |
| 2025 | 6'073 |
Historic sites in Villeneuve
Savoyard new town. The plan of the town founded around 1214 along the Great St Bernard road still shapes the historic centre.
Notre-Dame hospital. Founded around 1236 by Aymon of Savoy to shelter the poor, pilgrims and the sick on the Alpine road.
Remains in Villeneuve
Roman remains. Roman settlements at La Muraz and Le Clos du Moulin and the necropolis at Valleyres bear witness to the station of Penne Locos.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villeneuve (VD) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Villeneuve
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