The Many Names and Famous Figures of Villeneuve on the Shores of Lake Geneva

The town of Villeneuve (Canton of Vaud) has borne various names throughout its long history, dating back to Celtic and Roman times. However, the area was already inhabited after the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago.

Its location on the shores of Lake Geneva, the connection between France and Italy, and the relatively mild climate provided favourable conditions for trade, settlement, fishing, viticulture, agriculture, and hunting. The Helvetian Celtic tribe inhabited the region as early as the Bronze Age. Later, the Romans called the place Pennelocus.

After the Romans withdrew at the beginning of the 5th century, the settlement declined. The event known as Tauredunum marked the end of habitation; this tsunami destroyed the inhabited area as far as Geneva in the year 563.

Nevertheless, the settlement was rebuilt under the name Compendiacus, later Compegniez, named after Compendius, a landowner. The current name and city rights of Villeneuve date back to the Counts of Savoy, who were also lords of Chablais. In 1214, they founded the town of Villeneuve de Chillon near their castle, Chillon.

Shortly thereafter, Villeneuve already had more than 2,000 inhabitants (at that time, Aigle had “only” 160)! From 1536 to 1798, Villeneuve was administered by Bern, then belonged to Vaud in the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), and from 1803 to the Canton of Vaud. On 11 May 1800, Napoleon briefly stayed in this town with his army during his Italian campaign (against the Habsburgs).

Like other places on the lake (and in Switzerland), Villeneuve had many internationally renowned residents and visitors, including Lord Byron (1788–1824), Léon Gambetta (1838–1882), Victor Hugo (1802–1885), Richard Wagner (1813–1883), Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), Tomás Masaryk (1850–1937), Edvard Beneš (1884–1948), Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980), and the Nobel Prize-winning author Romain Rolland (1866–1944).

Chillon Castle, the Church of Saint-Paul, and the artworks along the lake are still preserved today. Vevey may have its fork in the lake, but Villeneuve has its tree!

(Source and further information: Commune de Villeneuve)

St. Paul Church