Lac de Joux

Title

Lac de Joux

Also Known As

Abbatia de Lacu, Cuernens, Domus Dei, Interlachen, Lac-de-Joux, Lacus Jovis, Lacus Jurensis, Leona

Dates

Founded 1126-1134; dissolved 1536

Dedication

Mary; Mary Magdalene

Affiliation

Prémontré

Medieval Diocese

Lausanne

Circary

Burgundy

History

The Premonstratensian house of Lac de Joux was founded 1126-1134 by the brothers Barthélemy, bishop of Laon, and Ebal, lord of Grandson-La Sarraz. It was initially a double monastery; the sisters later moved to Rueyres.

The abbey enjoyed close relations with its patron family over the years and benefited from donations which saw its estate grow significantly. However, in the early 14th century the abbey went through a period of economic difficulty which sparked a period of reform.

The abbey was suppressed in 1536 and its property was secularised.

Heads of Community

Priors

Gosbertus, fl. 1126

Abbots

Petrus I de Ponte?, fl. 1135?
Theodoricus, fl. 1141
Richardus, 1143-44
Stephanus, 1149-57
Gualterus, 1160-7
M., fl. 1180
Nanthelmus?, fl. 1190
Nicolaus I, fl. 1193
Ludovicus I?, fl. 1210-11?
Gaymarus, 1215-17
Humbertus I, 1219-47
Gulielmus, 1249-61
Guido, 1263-65
Joannes I de Bretigny, 1273-78
Radulphus de Monnaz, 1283-89
Joannes II, fl. 1294
Nicolaus II?, fl. 1301
Petrus II de Vennes, 1302-18
Gulielmus II Boniz, fl. 1314?
Raymundus, fl. 1319
Joannes III de Lutry, 1322-24
Jacobus I Bonet, 1327-33
Humbertus II Belvas, 1334-36
Ludovicus II de Senarclens, 1336-69
Petrus III Majeur de Romainmotier, 1370-83
Joannes IV de Jougne, 1419-23
Gulielmus III de Bettens, 1424-57
Nicolaus II de Gruffy, 1458-ca. 1480
Joannes V Pollens, 1480-84
Joannes VI de Tornafoll, 1484-1509, 1509-1511
Aymon Jacquot, 1509
Jacobus II Varnier, 1513-19
Claudius I d'Estavayer, 1519-34
Claudius II Pollens, 1534-36

Status

Abbey

Archival Sources

Chavannes-près-Renens, Archives Cantonales Vaudoises

C X c (12th-16th c.)

C XV 14/2 (1239)

C XXII NF4684-5015 (12th-16th c.)

C XXII NF06143 (1234)

C XXII NF06723 (1294)

C XXII NF06743 C XV 14/2 (1239)

C XXII NF06858 C X c 26 (1225)

C XXII NF07139 (1438)

C XXII NF07262 C X c 264 (1381)

C XXII NF07263 C X c 288 (1389)

C XXII NF07568 C X c 56 (1257)

C XXII NF07587 (1239)

C XXII NF07588 C XVI 84/2 (1241)

C XXII NF07803 (1288)

C XXII NF07909 (1294)

C XXII NF07931 (1186)

C XXII NF08323 (1258)

C XXII NF08343 C XVI 19/2 (1273)

C XXII NF08651 (1292)

C XXII NF08659 (1235)

C XXII NF08746 (1401)

C XXII NF08747 C XVI 253/3 (1441)

C XXII NF08990 C X c 52 (1254)

P Loys 178 (1544)

Bibliography

Andenmatten, Bernard. “Lac de Joux.” In Die Prämonstratenser und Prämonstratenserinnen in der Schweiz, edited by Brigitte Degler-Spengler, Urs Amacher, and Bernard Andenmatten, 3:451–94. Helvetia Sacra 4. Basel: Helbing und Lichtenhahn, 2002.

Gingins-La-Sarra, Frédéric Jean Charles de. Annales de l’Abbaye du Lac-de-Joux: depuis sa fondation jusqu’à sa suppression en 1536. Lausanne: Imprimerie-Librairie de Marc Ducloux, 1842. https://books.google.com/books?id=5AJbAAAAQAAJ.

Martinet, Claire. L’abbaye prémontrée du Lac de Joux : des origines au XIVe siècle. Cahiers lausannois d’histoire médiévale 12. Lausanne: Université de Lausanne, 1994.

———. “Pour une histoire authentique de l’abbaye du Lac de Joux.” M.A. Thesis, University of Lausanne, 1992.

Piguet, Auguste. “En compulsant d’antiques chartes.” Feuille d’avis du district de la Vallée, March 13, 1924. https://scriptorium.bcu-lausanne.ch/s/u8VZGLDWOC.

———. “La tour de l’abbaye du lac de Joux.” Revue historique vaudoise 52 (1944): 55–59. https://dx.doi.org/10.5169/seals-44408.

———. “Quelques précisions sur trois abbés de Joux au XIIIe siècle.” Feuille d’avis du district de la Vallée, June 6, 1924. https://scriptorium.bcu-lausanne.ch/s/GHggJjKWn6.

Image Credit

The former church tower of the abbey of Lac de Joux, 2006. Wikimedia.

Files

Collection

Burgundy

Citation

“Lac de Joux,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/511.

Geolocation

Item Relations

Item: Rueyres (Vevey) DependentOn This Item
Item: Rueyres (Puidoux) DependentOn This Item
Item: Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges DependentOn This Item
Item: Villarvolard DependentOn This Item
Item: Bellelay DependentOn This Item