Vugelles-La Mothe
Origin of the name Vugelles-La Mothe
Vugelles is mentioned in 1228 as «Vouzala», then «Vougella» (1303) and «Vougeallaz» (1403). The name is explained either as a diminutive of Latin «vallis clausa» (closed valley), or by «vallicella» (small valley), or as a diminutive of «vouze», the Franco-Provençal name of the goat willow (to be cross-checked). La Mothe appears in the 14th century as «la Mottaz»; the name comes from a pre-Latin word «motta», «mound», and refers to the small rounded hill that almost closed the valley to the west and carried the castle.
Founding of Vugelles-La Mothe
The territory has yielded isolated finds from the Bronze Age and the Roman period, as well as an early medieval cemetery. None of the sources consulted names a founder. From the 14th century La Mothe was the centre of an important lordship created by the break-up of that of Champvent; the lords of Champvent built a castle there in 1334-1340. Vugelles and La Mothe formed a large community together with Orges and Longeville, from which they separated in the mid-19th century to form an independent municipality.
History of Vugelles-La Mothe
Bronze Age. Isolated finds on the territory.
Roman period. Isolated finds on the territory.
Early Middle Ages. A cemetery bears witness to settlement of the site.
1228. First mention of Vugelles, «Vouzala»; the parish and its church of Saint-Maurice are attested.
1303. Mentioned as «Vougella».
14th century. La Mothe becomes the centre of a lordship created by the break-up of that of Champvent.
1334-1340. The lords of Champvent build the castle of La Mothe.
1377. Marguerite de Vufflens brings the castle to her third husband, Jacques de Vergy, of a great Burgundian family.
1403. Mentioned as «Vougeallaz».
1416. The community has 26 hearths.
1476. The castle of La Mothe is destroyed during the Burgundian Wars.
1526. A paper mill, powered by the Fontannet spring, begins operating.
1536-1798. La Mothe is part of the bailiwick of Yverdon.
1537. Vugelles adopts the Reformation; the parish is attached to that of Fiez.
1741. A marksmen's society (abbaye des tireurs) is founded.
18th century. The church is completely remodelled and loses its ornaments.
1798-2006. The municipality is part of the district of Yverdon.
1849. Vugelles and La Mothe separate from Orges and form an independent municipality (another source gives 1852) (to be cross-checked).
early 20th century. Workshops cutting precious stones for watchmaking open.
1925. Adoption of the municipal arms: paly argent and azure (field of the lords of Grandson), an owl proper perched on a half mill wheel Or.
1947. A firing range attached to the Chamblon barracks is set up.
2008. The municipality is part of the district of Jura-Nord vaudois, which came into force on 1 January 2008.
Population of Vugelles-La Mothe
| 1416 | 26 hearths (households) |
| 1850 | 436 (with Orges) |
| 1860 | 267 |
| 1900 | 349 |
| 1950 | 165 |
| 2000 | 99 |
| 2025 | 142 |
Historic sites in Vugelles-La Mothe
The church of Vugelles. Former parish church of Saint-Maurice, mentioned from 1228; attached to the parish of Fiez at the Reformation, it was completely remodelled in the 18th century. Its walls date from the 15th century; it was restored in 1922 and received a stained-glass window in 1941 (to be cross-checked).
La Mothe. Hamlet upstream of Vugelles, at the foot of the hill that carried the castle, centre of the lordship of La Mothe from the 14th century.
Fontannet spring. For centuries it powered a paper mill (from 1526), a mill, several forges and then, in the 20th century, precious-stone workshops for watchmaking.
Remains in Vugelles-La Mothe
Site of the castle of La Mothe. Built in 1334-1340 by the lords of Champvent on a small rounded hill, the castle was held among others by Marguerite de Vufflens and Jacques de Vergy. It was destroyed in 1476 during the Burgundian Wars; a tower is said to have survived until the end of the 15th century (to be cross-checked).
Ancient finds. Isolated finds from the Bronze Age and the Roman period, and an early medieval cemetery.
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Vugelles-La-Mothe »
- Commune de Vugelles-La Mothe, « Historique »
- Feuille des avis officiels du canton de Vaud, « Alphabet des communes vaudoises : Vugelles-La Mothe »
- Wikipédia, « Vugelles-La Mothe »
- Wikipedia (en), « Vugelles-La Mothe »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Vugelles-La Mothe
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