Epesses

Epesses was until July 1, 2011, a municipality in the district of Lavaux-Oron in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. They merged with Cully, Grandvaux, Riex and Villette (Lavaux ) for new political community Bourg -en -Lavaux.

Geography

Epesses is located on 464 m above sea level. M., 10 km east-southeast of the canton capital Lausanne ( straight line ). The village is located on a small Verebnungsfläche middle of the vineyards on the steep slopes of the Lavaux, on the slopes of Mont de Gourze a scenic location about 80 m above the lake level of Lake Geneva.

The area of ​​1.6 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the Lavaux on the northeastern shore of Lake Geneva ( 700 m lake shore line). The communal land extends from the lake north the steep slope of Epesses way up to the forest heights east of Mont de Gourze. The slope is drained by the village stream Rio d' Enfer to Lake Geneva. At the height above the farm Bois de Romont is 864 m above sea level. M. reached the highest point of Epesses. From the municipality surface 1997 10 % came from settlements, 29 % of forest and shrubs, 60 % to agriculture and slightly more than 1% was unproductive land.

Epesses consists of the village, the two hamlets Cret -Dessus ( 459 m above sea level. M. ) and Cret - lingerie (432 m above sea level. M. ), each located at the Rio d' Enfer, and a few free-standing farms. Neighboring communities of Epesses were Cully, Riex, Forel ( Lavaux) and Puidoux.

Population

With 332 inhabitants ( 31 December 2010) Epesses was one of the small communities of the Canton of Vaud. Of the 88.6% inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.3 % and 3.3 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Epesses amounted in 1850 to 382 residents in 1900 to 419 inhabitants. Until 1960 (381 inhabitants), the population remained almost constant, since a decline in population was reported by approximately 20 %. This decrease is due to the fact that no new buildings may be created in the vineyards.

Economy

Most of the houses in the village inhabited by winemakers who cultivate the 52 hectares of vineyards in the municipality. Apart from a few restaurants since the end of 2002 there are no other shops more. The cultivation of quality wines now forms the main industry. Are produced V.A. dry white wines, mainly from the Chasselas grape variety, but in addition also red wines (Pinot Noir, Syrah, etc.) and specialties. In Epesses there are three known locations:

• Epesses ( north and west of the village center, partly in the municipality Riex located )

And especially the grands crus ( great growths )

• Calamine ( south of the village center, down to Lake Geneva )
• Le Dézaley (to the east; partially already in the communities located Puidoux and Rivaz )

Traffic

Although epesses located off the main roads, but traffic is still technically well developed. By Epesses performs a connecting road from Cully to Chexbres, along the lakeshore Main road 9 The nearest motorway connection to the opened in 1974, A9 (Lausanne -Sion ), which crosses the former municipality, is Chexbres, approximately 3 km from the village.

On April 2, 1861, the Lausanne -Villeneuve section of the railway line from Lausanne to Valais with the Epesses station was put into operation ( on the lakeshore ). For the dispersion in public transport is a bus line that serves the route of the Cully via Epesses and Chexbres to Puidoux- Chexbres station provides.

History

Traces of a Roman road and coin finds suggest an early settlement of the municipality. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1166 under the name Espesses; 1228 appeared the name Spesses. The place name derives from the Latin word spissa (dense, thick) from, probably meaning the red spruce is meant.

In the Middle Ages Epesses was under the Benedictine Lutry. With the conquest of Vaud by Bern in 1536, the village came under the administration of the Bailiwick of Lausanne. After the collapse of the ancien régime Epesses 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 was assigned to the district of Lavaux.

It was not until 1824, when the larger municipality was divided Villette, Epesses gained the status of an independent political community. A project for the merger of the five independent municipalities today Cully, Epesses, Riex, Grandvaux and Villette (Lavaux ) failed in a vote on 27 February 2005 on the resistance of the population of Grandvaux. The project was therefore provisionally not pursued. It was not until July 1, 2011 came the merger of these five municipalities merged to Bourg -en -Lavaux into force.

Attractions

Epesses with its densely packed, often together built houses, mostly dating from the 17th to the 19th century, offers a picturesque townscape. The Chapel of Saint -Jacques goes back in the core on the 14th to the 16th century and has since been restored several times. Dating from the 15th century house Bovard is a listed building.