Vaud
Encyclopedia
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland
and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne
. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian
(vo), Waadt in German
(ˈvaːt), and Vad in Romansh.
inhabited the area. The tribe was defeated by Caesar
's troops in 58 BC and as a consequence the Romans
settled the area. The towns of Vevey
and Lausanne (Lausonium or Lausonna) are two of the many towns established by the Romans.
In 27 BC the state of Civitas Helvetiorum was established around the capital of Avenches
(Aventicum). There are still many Roman remains around the town today. Between the 2nd and the 4th century the area was repeatedly invaded by Alemannic tribes, and in the 5th century the Burgundians
occupied the area. The Merovingian Franks later replaced the Burgundians. Their occupancy did not last long either, and in 888 the area of the canton of Vaud was made part of the Carolingian Empire
. In 1032 the Zähringen
s of Germany defeated the Burgundians. The Zähringens themselves were succeeded in 1218 by the counts of Savoy
. It was only under the counts of Savoy that the area was given political unity, establishing the Barony of Vaud
. A part stretching from Attalens to the River Sarine, in the north, was absorbed by the canton of Fribourg.
As the power of the Savoy
s declined at the beginning of the 15th century the land was occupied by troops from Bern. By 1536 the area was completely annexed. Reformation was started by co-workers of John Calvin
like Pierre Viret
, including a famous debate at the cathedral of Lausanne; but it was only decisively implemented when Bern put its full force behind it.
The Bernese occupants were not popular amongst the population. In 1723, Major Abraham Davel led a revolt against Berne, in protest at what he saw as the denial of political rights of the French-speaking Vaudois by the German-speaking Bernese, and was subsequently beheaded. Later, inspired by the French Revolution
, the Vaudois drove out the Bernese governor in 1798 and declared the Lemanic Republic. Vaud nationalists like Frédéric-César de La Harpe
had called for French intervention in liberating the area and French Revolutionary troops moved in, taking over the whole of Switzerland itself in the process and setting up the Helvetic Republic
. Under Napoleon I
, it became the canton of Léman
. Unrest about the abolition of feudal
rights and taxes led to increased discontent, which culminated in the revolt of the Bourla-papey
in Spring 1802, closely followed by the Stecklikrieg
that brought the end of the entire Helvetic Republic. In 1803, Vaud joined the re-installed Swiss confederation. In spite of Bernese attempts to reclaim Vaud, it has remained a sovereign canton ever since.
In the 19th century, the canton of Vaud was an outspoken opponent of the Sonderbund Catholic separatist movement, which led to intervention in 1847 by 99,000 Swiss Federal troops under General Henri Dufour against 79,000 separatists, in what is called the Sonderbund War. Separation was prevented at the cost of very few lives. The current constitution dates from April 14, 2003, replacing the one from 1885.
in the north, where it borders the canton of Neuchâtel
to Lake Geneva
in the south, bordering the canton of Geneva
, Haute-Savoie
(lake border with France
) and canton of Valais. On the Jura ranges
in the west, the canton borders the French
départements of Ain
, Jura, and Doubs. In the east, it borders canton of Fribourg
and canton of Bern. The total area is 3212 square kilometres (1,240.2 sq mi).
Along with the canton of Berne, Vaud is one of the two cantons whose territory extends from the Jura to the Alps, through the three distinct geographic regions of Switzerland
.
The areas in the southeast are mountainous, situated on the north side of the Bernese Alps
. The region is commonly named the Vaud Alps . The Diablerets
massif, peaking at 3210 metres (10,531 ft), is the highest mountain of the canton and the only glaciated area. Other summits such as the Grand Muveran
or the Tour d'Aï
are well visible from most of the canton. The area also host several popular skiing destinations such as Villars
, Les Diablerets
and Leysin
.
The central area of the canton, in contrast, consists of moraine
s and is thus hilly. There are plains along the lakes. In the north, there is an exclave containing Avenches surrounded by canton of Fribourg and Lake Neuchâtel. On the other hand, there are two enclaves of the canton of Fribourg(Estavayer-le-lac, Vuissens, Surpierre), as well as two enclaves of the canton of Geneva(Céligny), that are surrounded by the canton of Vaud.
The north-western part of the canton is also mountainous but in a more modest way with mountains (or hills) generally not above 1,500 metres. The Vallée de Joux
is one of the most popular destinations in the region. and the heart of luxury mechanical Swiss Watch
manufacturing (see "Watch Valley").
The Canton of Vaud is divided into 10 districts:
.
-speaking and historically was overwhelmingly Protestant (Calvinist), dating from the early years of the Reformation
. Recently, however, this has been changing due to immigration from Southern Europe
. In 2000, the population was nearly evenly split between Protestants (40%) and Roman Catholics (34%).
The population of the canton (as of ) is . , the population included about 28% foreigners, including many Italian
s. The major population centres of the canton are: Lausanne ( inhabitants in ), Montreux
-Vevey
(Montreux: Vevey: inhabitants) and Yverdon-les-Bains
( inhabitants). The region around Nyon
is often considered part of the agglomeration of Geneva
. All of these are on Lake Geneva (called Lac Léman in French
), except for Yverdon, which is on Lake Neuchâtel.
The capital, Lausanne
, is the major city of the canton. There are light industries concentrated around it. In 1998, 71.7% of the workers worked in the tertiary sector and 20.8% in the secondary.
The canton is the second-largest producer of wine
in Switzerland. Most of the wine produced in the canton is white, and most vineyards are located on the steep shores of Lake Geneva such as the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
. There is agriculture in the areas away from Lake Geneva. Sugar beet is important around Orbe
, tobacco in La Broye Valley and fruit is grown on the foot of the Jura mountains
. Cattle breeding and pasture are common in the Alps
and the Jura mountains. There is a salt mine
at Bex
. Tourism is important in many towns along the Lake Geneva. Major lakeside resorts include Lausanne, Montreux
and Vevey
.
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
(vo), Waadt in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
(ˈvaːt), and Vad in Romansh.
History
Along the lakes, Vaud was inhabited in prehistoric times. Later on, the Celtic tribe of the HelvetiiHelvetii
The Helvetii were a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC...
inhabited the area. The tribe was defeated by Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
's troops in 58 BC and as a consequence the Romans
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
settled the area. The towns of Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
and Lausanne (Lausonium or Lausonna) are two of the many towns established by the Romans.
In 27 BC the state of Civitas Helvetiorum was established around the capital of Avenches
Avenches
Avenches is a Swiss municipality in the canton of Vaud, located in the district of Broye-Vully.-History:The roots of Avenches go back to the Celts...
(Aventicum). There are still many Roman remains around the town today. Between the 2nd and the 4th century the area was repeatedly invaded by Alemannic tribes, and in the 5th century the Burgundians
Burgundians
The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe...
occupied the area. The Merovingian Franks later replaced the Burgundians. Their occupancy did not last long either, and in 888 the area of the canton of Vaud was made part of the Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
. In 1032 the Zähringen
Zähringen
Zähringen is the name of an old German family that founded a large number of cities in what are today Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg. While the junior line that first assumed the title Duke of Zähringen, a cadet branch of the House of Baden, became extinct in 1218, the senior line persists and...
s of Germany defeated the Burgundians. The Zähringens themselves were succeeded in 1218 by the counts of Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
. It was only under the counts of Savoy that the area was given political unity, establishing the Barony of Vaud
Barony of Vaud
The Barony of Vaud was an appanage of the County of Savoy, corresponding roughly to the modern Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It was created by a process of acquisition on the part of a younger brother of reigning count beginning in 1234 and culminated in the formalisation of its relationship to...
. A part stretching from Attalens to the River Sarine, in the north, was absorbed by the canton of Fribourg.
As the power of the Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
s declined at the beginning of the 15th century the land was occupied by troops from Bern. By 1536 the area was completely annexed. Reformation was started by co-workers of John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
like Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret
Pierre Viret was a Swiss Reformed theologian.- Early life :Pierre Viret was born to a devout middle class Roman Catholic family in Orbe, a small town now in Switzerland. He was a close friend of John Calvin....
, including a famous debate at the cathedral of Lausanne; but it was only decisively implemented when Bern put its full force behind it.
The Bernese occupants were not popular amongst the population. In 1723, Major Abraham Davel led a revolt against Berne, in protest at what he saw as the denial of political rights of the French-speaking Vaudois by the German-speaking Bernese, and was subsequently beheaded. Later, inspired by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the Vaudois drove out the Bernese governor in 1798 and declared the Lemanic Republic. Vaud nationalists like Frédéric-César de La Harpe
Frédéric-César de La Harpe
Frédéric-César de La Harpe was a Swiss political leader and Vaudois patriot, who played a leading role in the creation of the Helvetic Republic.-Biography:...
had called for French intervention in liberating the area and French Revolutionary troops moved in, taking over the whole of Switzerland itself in the process and setting up the Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
. Under Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, it became the canton of Léman
Canton of Léman
Léman was the name of a canton of the Helvetic Republic from 1798 to 1803, corresponding to the territory of modern Vaud. As a former subject territory of Bern, Vaud had been independent for only four months in 1798 as the Lemanic Republic before it was incorporated in the centralist Helvetic...
. Unrest about the abolition of feudal
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
rights and taxes led to increased discontent, which culminated in the revolt of the Bourla-papey
Bourla-papey
Bourla-Papey was the name given to a popular revolt that took place between February and May 1802 in the Canton of Léman, in Switzerland, during the days of the Helvetic Republic. The uprising was in response to the restoration of feudal rights and taxes that had been abolished following the...
in Spring 1802, closely followed by the Stecklikrieg
Stecklikrieg
The Stecklikrieg of 1802 resulted in the collapse of the Helvetic Republic, the renewed French occupation of Switzerland and ultimately the Act of Mediation dictated by Napoleon on 10 March 1803....
that brought the end of the entire Helvetic Republic. In 1803, Vaud joined the re-installed Swiss confederation. In spite of Bernese attempts to reclaim Vaud, it has remained a sovereign canton ever since.
In the 19th century, the canton of Vaud was an outspoken opponent of the Sonderbund Catholic separatist movement, which led to intervention in 1847 by 99,000 Swiss Federal troops under General Henri Dufour against 79,000 separatists, in what is called the Sonderbund War. Separation was prevented at the cost of very few lives. The current constitution dates from April 14, 2003, replacing the one from 1885.
Geography
The canton stretches from Lake NeuchâtelLake Neuchâtel
Lake Neuchâtel is a lake in Romandy, Switzerland . The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by the cantons of Vaud, of Fribourg, and of Bern....
in the north, where it borders the canton of Neuchâtel
Canton of Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a canton of French speaking western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782 of which 39,654 were foreigners. The capital is Neuchâtel.-History:...
to Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
in the south, bordering the canton of Geneva
Canton of Geneva
The Republic and Canton of Geneva is the French speaking westernmost canton or state of Switzerland, surrounded on almost all sides by France. As is the case in several other Swiss cantons The Republic and Canton of Geneva is the French speaking westernmost canton or state of Switzerland,...
, Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
(lake border with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) and canton of Valais. On the Jura ranges
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
in the west, the canton borders the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
départements of Ain
Ain
Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
, Jura, and Doubs. In the east, it borders canton of Fribourg
Canton of Fribourg
The Canton of Fribourg is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the west of the country. The capital of the canton is Fribourg. The name Fribourg is French, whereas is the German name for both the canton and the town.-History:...
and canton of Bern. The total area is 3212 square kilometres (1,240.2 sq mi).
Along with the canton of Berne, Vaud is one of the two cantons whose territory extends from the Jura to the Alps, through the three distinct geographic regions of Switzerland
Geography of Switzerland
Switzerland is a mountainous and landlocked country located in Western or Central Europe . It is surrounded by 5 countries: Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, France to the west, Italy to the south and Germany to the north...
.
The areas in the southeast are mountainous, situated on the north side of the Bernese Alps
Bernese Alps
The Bernese Alps are a group of mountain ranges in the western part of the Alps, in Switzerland. Although the name suggests that they are located in the Bernese Oberland region of the canton of Bern, portions of the Bernese Alps are in the adjacent cantons of Valais, Lucerne, Obwalden, Fribourg and...
. The region is commonly named the Vaud Alps . The Diablerets
Diablerets
The Diablerets is a mountain in the Bernese Alps, located between the cantons of Valais and Vaud, in the western French-speaking part of Switzerland. The summit is 3,210 metres high, making it the highest mountain in the canton of Vaud...
massif, peaking at 3210 metres (10,531 ft), is the highest mountain of the canton and the only glaciated area. Other summits such as the Grand Muveran
Grand Muveran
The Grand Muveran is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. At 3,051 metres it is the highest summit lying west of Pas de Cheville and the westernmost three-thousander of the Bernese Alps. It is located on the border between Vaud and Valais. On the latter side is the village of Ovronnaz where the easiest...
or the Tour d'Aï
Tour d'Aï
The Tour d'Aï is a mountain in the western Bernese Alps, overlooking Leysin in the canton of Vaud. It is located near the Tour de Mayen, on the range lying between the Rhone and Col des Mosses, south of Lake Geneva, from where both summits can be easily seen....
are well visible from most of the canton. The area also host several popular skiing destinations such as Villars
Villars
-In France:*Villars, Dordogne*Villars, Eure-et-Loir*Villars, Loire*Villars, Vaucluse*Villars-les-Dombes, Ain*Villars-le-Sec, Territoire de Belfort-In Switzerland:*Canton of Jura** Villars, Jura, Switzerland in the municipality Fontenais*Canton of Fribourg...
, Les Diablerets
Les Diablerets (Ormont-Dessus)
Les Diablerets is a village and ski resort located in the municipality of Ormont-Dessus in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.The village lies at an altitude of 1,160 metres on the north side of the massif of the Diablerets in the Swiss Alps. It can be accessed by train or by road from Aigle...
and Leysin
Leysin
Leysin is a municipality of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, located in the district of Aigle.-History:Leysin is first mentioned around 1231-32 as Leissins. In 1352 it was mentioned as Leisins.-Geography:...
.
The central area of the canton, in contrast, consists of moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
s and is thus hilly. There are plains along the lakes. In the north, there is an exclave containing Avenches surrounded by canton of Fribourg and Lake Neuchâtel. On the other hand, there are two enclaves of the canton of Fribourg(Estavayer-le-lac, Vuissens, Surpierre), as well as two enclaves of the canton of Geneva(Céligny), that are surrounded by the canton of Vaud.
The north-western part of the canton is also mountainous but in a more modest way with mountains (or hills) generally not above 1,500 metres. The Vallée de Joux
Vallée de Joux
The Vallée de Joux is a valley of the Jura Mountains in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. Located 20 miles north of Geneva and Lausanne, its mean elevation is over 3300 feet . There are three lakes in the Vallée de Joux : the lac de Joux , the lac Brenet and the lac Ter...
is one of the most popular destinations in the region. and the heart of luxury mechanical Swiss Watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
manufacturing (see "Watch Valley").
Members of the national council
Source:| UDC Swiss People's Party The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of... members |
PS Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland.... members |
PES Green Party of Switzerland The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:... members |
PLR FDP.The Liberals FDP.The Liberals is a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It is the joint-largest party in the Federal Council, third-largest party in the National Council, and second-largest in the Council of States.... members |
PDC Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss... members |
PST member(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Bugnon | Josiane Aubert | Daniel Brélaz | Charles Favre | Jacques Neirynck | Josef Zisyadis |
| Alice Glauser-Zufferey | Ada Marra | Adèle Thorens Goumaz | Olivier Français | --- | --- |
| Jean-Pierre Grin | Roger Nordmann | Christian van Singer | Isabelle Moret | --- | --- |
| Guy Parmelin | Eric Voruz | --- | Claude Ruey | --- | --- |
| Pierre-François Veillon | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Members of the council of states
Source:| PES member(s) | PS member(s) |
|---|---|
| Luc Recordon | Géraldine Savary |
Districts
- AigleAigle (district)Aigle District is a district of the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.-Geography:Aigle has an area, , of . Of this area, or 34.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 41.3% is forested...
with capital AigleAigleAigle is the capital of the district of Aigle in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The town has a population of 8,100 people.The name of this municipality in French means eagle.-Geography:... - Broye-VullyBroye-Vully (district)Broye-Vully District is a district in Vaud Canton in Switzerland.-Geography:Broye-Vully has an area, , of . Of this area, or 65.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 21.5% is forested...
with capital PayernePayernePayerne is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It was the seat of the district of Payerne, and is now part of the district of Broye-Vully.... - Gros-de-VaudGros-de-Vaud (district)Gros-de-Vaud District is a district in Vaud canton.Gros-de-Vaud has an area, , of . Of this area, or 66.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 23.7% is forested...
with capital EchallensEchallensEchallens is a municipality in the district of Gros-de-Vaud in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-History:The territory of the municipality was already settled very early. There are remains of a Bronze Age foundry.... - Jura-Nord VaudoisJura-North Vaudois (district)Jura-Nord Vaudois District is a district in Vaud canton of Switzerland. Its capital is Yverdon-les-Bains.-Geography:Jura-Nord vaudois has an area, , of . Of this area, or 47.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.1% is forested...
with capital Yverdon-les-BainsYverdon-les-BainsYverdon-les-Bains is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district... - LausanneLausanne (district)Lausanne District is a district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The seat of the district is the city of Lausanne.-Geography:Lausanne has an area, , of . Of this area, or 27.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 30.9% is forested...
with capital LausanneLausanneLausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west... - Lavaux-OronLavaux-Oron (district)-Geography:Lavaux-Oron has an area, , of . Of this area, or 59.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 23.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 16.3% is settled and or 0.9% is unproductive land.-Demographics:...
with capital Cully - MorgesMorges (district)Morges District is a district in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The seat of the district is the city of Morges.-Geography:Morges has an area, , of . Of this area, or 55.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 33.9% is forested...
with capital MorgesMorgesMorges is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud, located in the district of Morges and is also the seat of the district.-History:... - NyonNyon (district)Nyon District is a district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The seat of the district is the city of Nyon.-Geography:Nyon has an area, , of . Of this area, or 42.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 44.7% is forested...
with capital NyonNyonNyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of... - Riviera-Pays-d'EnhautRiviera-Pays-d'Enhaut (district)-Geography:Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut has an area, , of . Of this area, or 39.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 39.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, or 9.3% is settled and or 11.1% is unproductive land.-Demographics:...
with capital VeveyVeveyVevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District... - Ouest lausannoisOuest lausannois (district)Ouest Lausannois District is a district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The seat of the district is Renens.-Geography:Ouest Lausannois has an area, , of . Of this area, or 24.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 13.6% is forested...
with capital RenensRenensRenens is a municipality in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It is located in the district of Ouest lausannois, and is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. It is the fourth largest city in the canton. It is considered a very multiethnic town, as more than 50% of the inhabitants are resident foreign...
Municipalities
There are 376 municipalities in the cantonMunicipalities of the canton of Vaud
There are 339 municipalities in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, . Vaud is the canton with the 2nd most municipalities .-Mergers:On January 1, 1961:*The municipalities of Bussy-sur-Morges and Chardonney-sur-Morges merge to form Bussy-Chardonney...
.
Demographics
The population is FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
-speaking and historically was overwhelmingly Protestant (Calvinist), dating from the early years of the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. Recently, however, this has been changing due to immigration from Southern Europe
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
. In 2000, the population was nearly evenly split between Protestants (40%) and Roman Catholics (34%).
The population of the canton (as of ) is . , the population included about 28% foreigners, including many Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
s. The major population centres of the canton are: Lausanne ( inhabitants in ), Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
-Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
(Montreux: Vevey: inhabitants) and Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains
Yverdon-les-Bains is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is the seat of the district...
( inhabitants). The region around Nyon
Nyon
Nyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
is often considered part of the agglomeration of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. All of these are on Lake Geneva (called Lac Léman in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
), except for Yverdon, which is on Lake Neuchâtel.
Economy
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, is the major city of the canton. There are light industries concentrated around it. In 1998, 71.7% of the workers worked in the tertiary sector and 20.8% in the secondary.
The canton is the second-largest producer of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
in Switzerland. Most of the wine produced in the canton is white, and most vineyards are located on the steep shores of Lake Geneva such as the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
Lavaux
The Lavaux is a region in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, in the district of Lavaux. Although there is some evidence that vines were grown in the area in Roman times, the actual vine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area...
. There is agriculture in the areas away from Lake Geneva. Sugar beet is important around Orbe
Orbe
Orbe is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It was the seat of the former district of Orbe and is now part of the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois.-History:Orbe is first mentioned about 280 as Urba. In 1179 it was mentioned as versus Orbam....
, tobacco in La Broye Valley and fruit is grown on the foot of the Jura mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
. Cattle breeding and pasture are common in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and the Jura mountains. There is a salt mine
Salt mine
A salt mine is a mining operation involved in the extraction of rock salt or halite from evaporite deposits.-Occurrence:Areas known for their salt mines include Kilroot near Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland ; Khewra and Warcha in Pakistan; Tuzla in Bosnia; Wieliczka and Bochnia in Poland A salt mine...
at Bex
Bex
Bex is a municipality in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, located in the district of Aigle. It is a few miles south of its sister town municipality of Aigle.-The Bex Salt Mine:Bex is the site of a famous salt mine....
. Tourism is important in many towns along the Lake Geneva. Major lakeside resorts include Lausanne, Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
and Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
.
Education
The Canton is home to several renowned universities and schools:- Swiss Federal institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL)
- University of LausanneUniversity of LausanneThe University of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland was founded in 1537 as a school of theology, before being made a university in 1890. Today about 12,000 students and 2200 researchers study and work at the university...
(UNIL) - International Institute for Management DevelopmentInternational Institute for Management DevelopmentIMD - International Institute for Management Development is a non profit business school located in Lausanne, Switzerland.- History & Mission :...
(IMD) - École Cantonale d'Art de Lausanne, Lausanne Art School (ECAL)
- Institut Le RoseyInstitut Le RoseyInstitut Le Rosey, commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a school, in Gstaad, Switzerland. It is described as one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world. The school was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880 on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey near the town...
- Aiglon CollegeAiglon CollegeAiglon College is a private English-style boarding school in Switzerland, registered as a not-for-profit charitable institution, with an international student intake . The school gathers funds from full fee-paying students, from donations and via registered charitable trusts in different countries...
- Glion Institute of Higher EducationGlion Institute of Higher EducationGlion Institute of Higher Education is a private university with two campuses located in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Opened in the fall of 1962 in the former Bellevue Hotel, Glion was the first private, university-level Swiss hotel management school...
, Glion Institute of higher Education - The American Graduate School of Business
- Business School Lausanne (BSL)BSL, Business School LausanneBSL was founded in 1987 by John Hobbs, a university professor who felt business education was missing valuable practical learning. He built BSL as a small international business school in Lausanne, Switzerland certified by the ACBSP in 1996 and in 1997 it was integrated into the Group of Private...
- Château de BosseyWorld Council of ChurchesThe World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
- Swiss Hotel Management SchoolSwiss Hotel Management SchoolThe Swiss Hotel Management School is Switzerland's largest English-speaking hotel management school. SHMS provides an international programme through a mixture of courses and practical internships. The school offers various programs other than the basic Bachelor's Degree in International...
(SHMS)