The Region
Tourism & History
Of the Vaud Region
Hunter gatherers sheltering under rocks at the end of the last ice age (Abri Freymond du Molendruz, Scé-du-Châtelard, Villeneuve), were succeeded by agricultural settlers on the banks of the lake from around 4000 BC (www.latenium.ch).
In 58 BC, the celtic race of Helvetes were stopped by Julius Ceasar in their emigration towards the south-west of Gaul and forced to turn back to the north. The territory of the Helvetes was covered by the Pax Romana until the middle of the third century AC (Roman Museums of Lausanne, Nyon and Avenches).
From the 3rd century Helvetia suffered several invasions of Germanic races. During the fifth century the Burgundians were unable to defend their lands against the Franks.
The lands of Vaud were dependent on the Dukes of Burgundy until 1032.
They were then attached to the Holy German Empire.
From the 11th to the 13th century the area suffered political anarchy, benefiting however from economic development largely empowered by the church (www.swisscastles.ch/vaud/).
During the 13th century, Vaud fell under the rule of the House of Savoie but maintained a great degree of autonomy. The weakening of the Dukes of Savoie from the middle of the 15th century did not allow it to resist the growing power of Bern and Fribourg (visit to the old towns of Bern, Fribourg & Gruyère).
In 1536 the whole of the canton of Vaud joined the Swiss League as a region subject to Bern. The Reformation followed.
Two and half centuries later, the urban elites obtained the independence of the region of Vaud. The birth of Vaud in 1802 coincided with the French invasion of Switzerland. From 1845 to 1918, Vaud was governed under a philosophy of 'triumphant radicalism' which saw the development of industrialization and urbanization (visit Lausanne and cruise on Lake Geneva in 'Belle Epoque' Steam ships).
The 20th century was the century of economic change, social and economic crisis, world wars and post war prosperity, internationalism and the Olympic vocation (Olympic Museum, trip by rail to Gruyère by MOB).
Nowadays, Vaud continues to enjoy a dynamic development thanks to some charismatic figures from the world of politics and economics. It takes advantage of its geographic situation at the heart of Europe, the competences of its ecole polytechnique, and university, both active in leading-edge developments and in tourism and applies these skills with the good, old-fashioned common sense of its people (discover the terraced wineyards of Lavaux, classed as a Unesco World Heritage Site) !
Source : Lucienne Hubler Histoire du Pays de Vaud Editions L.E.P Loisirs et Pédagogie SA, Lausanne
Chardonne
The history of Chardonne is long. In 1000 AC it was referred to as Cardona and in the 12th Century Chardonna. This small town belonged to the Abbey of St Maurice, then to Blonay, on to the Abbey Haut-Crêt, Compey and at last Gruyères. After having been part of the Bishopric of Lausanne until the Reformation, Chardonne was merged into the parish of Corsier, one of the four parishes in Lavaux under the sway of the Bernese. The village already had, at that time, a special administration. The commune, in its current form, was constituted in 1820.
Today, the commune of Chardonne, an integral part of Lavaux, recently classified by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, continues to balance modernity with traditions. From the shores of the lake to the top of Mont-Pèlerin, it offers a rich variety of pleasures and entertainment.
Sources : www.chardonne.ch and www.chardonnemontpelerin.ch