Vulliens
Origin of the name Vulliens
First written mentions in 1152-1157 as «Willens» and «Villens». The name derives from a Germanic male personal name such as Wille or Wil(l)o, followed by the Germanic suffix -ingōs, meaning «among Wille's people» (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Vulliens
None of the sources consulted names a founder. The area was inhabited long before the present village: a La Tène period grave and a Roman spring catchment have been found here. The name, formed from a Germanic personal name and the suffix -ingōs, points to an early medieval settlement around an estate (to be cross-checked). In the 13th century Vulliens was the centre of a large lordship in the northern Jorat. The municipality comprises the village (Bourg-Dessus and Bourg-Dessous) and the hamlets of Bressonnaz-Dessus and Sépey.
History of Vulliens
La Tène period. A Celtic grave is made on the municipal territory.
Roman period. A spring catchment is built on the municipal territory.
1141. Possible mention of the place (to be cross-checked).
1152-1157. First reliable written forms of the name: «Willens» and «Villens».
1228. A parish church is recorded at Vulliens.
13th century. Vulliens is the centre of a large lordship.
around 1400. The lordship passes to the Fernex-Lullin, then at the beginning of the 15th century to the Genève-Lullin.
1416. The village has 23 hearths.
1536. Bernese conquest and Reformation: Vulliens belongs to the bailiwick of Moudon, where it is the seat of a court, and is attached to the parish of Mézières.
1611. The lordship passes to the von Tavel family.
1656. The lordship passes to the de Joffrey family.
1725. The lordship passes to the de Chandieu family.
1749-1780. Tufa is quarried at Vulliens.
1763. The lordship passes to the de Senarclens family.
1798. Vulliens is attached to the district of Oron, until 2006.
1842. The hamlets of Bressonnaz-Dessus and Sépey are attached to Syens, probably for church purposes (to be cross-checked).
2008. With the new Vaud districts, Vulliens joins the district of Broye-Vully. Despite new residential zones, the municipality keeps its rural character.
Population of Vulliens
| 1416 | 23 hearths (households) |
| 1659 | 28 hearths (households) |
| 1803 | 294 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 458 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 444 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 344 inhabitants |
| 1970 | 266 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 438 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 630 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Vulliens
Church. Parish church recorded since 1228; after the Reformation of 1536 Vulliens belongs to the parish of Mézières. The present building retains two windows and the portal from the 15th century (to be cross-checked).
Château du Sépey. Former manor house of the 18th century, said to have a 12th-century tower (to be cross-checked). The painter Eugène Burnand lived here; he is buried in the Vulliens cemetery (to be cross-checked).
Bourg-Dessus and Bourg-Dessous. The two parts of the village of Vulliens, a former seigneurial centre of the northern Jorat.
Remains in Vulliens
La Tène period grave. Iron Age burial discovered on the municipal territory, evidence of Celtic settlement.
Roman spring catchment. Roman structure built to collect the water of a spring, discovered on the municipal territory.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vulliens »
- Wikipédia, « Vulliens »
- Wikipedia (DE), « Vulliens »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
Other villages near Vulliens
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