Cossonay

Aerial view of Cossonay

Cossonay ( [ kɔsɔnɛ ], Provençal in the local dialect [(a) kɔsəne ] ) is a municipality in the district of Morges in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

Geography

Cossonay is located on 562 m above sea level. M., 11 km north of the district capital Morges ( straight line ). The town stretches along the edge of the plateau west of the Venoge, approximately 130 m above the river valley, in the Gros de Vaud, in the Vaud Mittelland.

The area of ​​8.3 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the gently undulating plateau of Gros de Vaud, the granary of the canton of Vaud. The eastern border is largely channeled over the Venoge. From here, the communal land extending westward to the vast plateau of Cossonay ranges in the south to the valley Valezard, in the north to Pré Defour. The plateau is bounded on the west by the forest Bois du Sépey, in the 620 m above sea level. M. the highest point of Cossonay is. There is also the nature reserve pond Etang du Sépey, which was created by the restoration of a former quarry. From the municipality surface 1997 13 % came from settlements, 22 % of forest and shrubs, 64% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

To Cossonay include some single-family house neighborhoods and the hamlet of Allen ( 543 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau south of the village. The neighboring municipalities are in the southeast of Cossonay Penthalaz, in the south Gollion, southwest Senarclens, in the north -west of La Chaux ( Cossonay ), in the north and the north- east Dizy Lussery -Villars.

Population

With 3413 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Cossonay belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Vaud. Of the 89.1% inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.1 % and 2.7 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Cossonay amounted in 1850 to 938 residents in 1900 to 1,060 inhabitants. Throughout the 20th century, the population grew slowly but steadily. Only since 1980 (1553 inhabitants), significantly increased the population increase was observed.

Economy

Cossonay until the 20th century an embossed by the agriculture town. Until the 15th century, viticulture was operated, since then dominate the crop and livestock farming. Even today, agriculture has a certain importance in the economic structure of the population.

Since the 16th century there were several mills along the Venoge. With industrialization and the transport links in the course of the 19th century an industrial zone developed in the valley ( for the most part in the municipal area of Penthalaz ), in which settled a condensed milk factory, cable factory and a broom factory. Cossonay thus attaining a certain level of prosperity. At the beginning of the 20th century was Cossonay seat of one of the French-speaking sections of the Swiss metal and watches Workers' Union. By 1920, major regional year and were held livestock markets in the town, but were abandoned due to the establishment of the Comptoir Suisse in Lausanne. Another economic boom brought the 1923 founding of the Société des Câbleries et Tréliferies SA ( Alcatel Cable Suisse SA today ) also, however, lies on the floor of Penthalaz.

Cossonay features a cinema, which was established in the former casino. It is a regional center of industrial, commercial and administrative function. In the town of mainly medium-sized and smaller companies are located, that specialize in the areas of electronics, scaffolding, transport, construction and wine trade. Cossonay has an architecture and art history archive ( managed by the EPFL Lausanne) and is the site of inter-communal school center Pré -aux -Moines ( 1982-89 built ). The former district court was moved in 2000 to Nyon.

In recent decades, Cossonay has also developed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who engage in the Lausanne area of their work.

Traffic

The community is easily accessible via. It lies on the road cross the main road from Lausanne to Vallorbe 9, the road from Morges to Orbe and the road over the Col du Mollendruz in the Vallée de Joux. The motorway connection Cossonay at the 1981 opened A1 (Lausanne -Yverdon ) is about 5 km from the center.

On May 7, 1855 Yverdon- section Bussigny -pres-Lausanne railway line Yverdon -Lausanne was taken with the Cossonay- Gare in Venogetal below Cossonay in the field of Penthalaz in operation. The city was connected in 1897 with the opening of the funicular Cossonay Gare -Ville (CG ) to the transport network. For the dispersion in public transport the mail Autokurse Cossonay -Gare after Cheseaux -sur- Lausanne, at L' Isle and of Cossonay ensure on the one hand via Cottens, on the other hand via Aclens to Morges.

History

The municipal area of Cossonay remains of a Roman estate and an early medieval burial ground were discovered. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1096 under the name Cochoniacum. 1164 appeared the name Cosonai and 1228 Cossonai.

Ulrich von Cossonay gave in 1096 the village church to the monastery Romainmôtier. 1224 it came into the possession of the Benedictines of Lutry, who let build a priory in Cossonay in the second half of the 13th century. The place was fortified in the 11th century, in the 13th and 14th centuries the ring walls were renewed and extended. The town was since the High Middle Ages seat of a powerful noble family. The barons of Cossonay ruled over an area of ​​La Chaux ( Cossonay ) to Boussens and Dizy to Gollion. In addition, numerous noble fiefs were under the rule also Cossonay.

The place was fitted to town charter in 1264. A fire in the late 14th century destroyed much of the town and the archive so that the privileges had to be replaced in 1398 by the Baroness Joan of Cossonay. When they died in 1406, the needle seat became vacant and was in 1421 at the latest to the House of Savoy. This built the Savoy Kastlanei Cossonay.

With the conquest of Vaud by Bern in 1536, the town came under the administration of the bailiwick of Morges, making it still a Kastlanei. After the collapse of the ancien régime Cossonay belonged from 1798 to 1803 during the Helvetic Republic to the canton of Geneva, who came up then with the enactment of the Act of Mediation in the canton of Vaud. 1798 District Cossonay was created and designed the town to the main town.

Attractions

Cossonay has a picturesque medieval townscape with many townhouses and mansions from the 17th to 19th centuries. From the former city fortifications no residues remain, but the barons also the original castle of Cossonay has completely disappeared.

Striking building in the historic town is the now reformed parish church Saint- Pierre -et -Paul. It stands on the site of probably already in the 8th century House of God. The current three-nave structure is to a large part back to the 13th century. The distinctive tower was built in the 15th century. The former Prioratsgebäude were converted into prisons and granaries in the Bernese period and later canceled. Parts of the priory have been converted to the new Cossonay Castle, once the seat of the local lords and now houses the prefecture.

In the old town, the Hôtel de Ville are (City Hall) from the 19th century with a classical facade, the Hôtel du Cerf from the 17th century and the late Gothic Café des Bains. The parsonage is from 1756th

Pictures

Maison de Ville

Saint Pierre -et -Paul

Rue du Four

Funicular Gare -Ville