Eclépens, Mormont, the Canal and the Castle

21 October 2021

The village of Eclépens (canton of Vaud) is located at the foot of the Mormont hill (known for its Celtic excavations) and lies on the left bank of the Venoge river.

Eclepedingus in the year 814, Sclepens in 1147, Escleppens in 1453, a name believed to be a person of Germanic origin.

The Roman road from Lousona (Lausanne) to Urba (Orbe) ran along the left bank of the Venoge, two kilometres above the current village.

In the year 814, Louis the Pious (778-840) donated the chapel of St. Didier and the oak forest of Mormont to the church of Lausanne. The nearby abbey of Romainmôtier owned a farm in the village.

There were two noble families: the Grassets and the Milites. After their extinction, the property was passed to the Gingins of the castle La Sarraz. Eclépens was part of the barony of La Sarraz until 1623.

During the Berne period (1536-1798), the justice system consisted of six jurors under the presidency of the Lord of La Sarraz.

The church of Eclépens, dedicated to Saint Peter, was probably founded before the 9th century (mentioned in the donation of Louis the Pious on 28 July 814) and was mentioned as a parish church in 1228, under the chapter of Lausanne.

In 1924, the municipality adopted a coat of arms with the lion of the knights of Eclépens and a wavy line symbolising the Entreroches canal and added an emblem recalling the Mormont.

(Source: www.eclepens.ch).