Epesses facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Epesses
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Le Dézaley vineyards
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 Epesses
Location in Switzerland
Epesses
Location in Canton of Vaud
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Vaud | |
| District | Lavaux-Oron | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.59 km2 (0.61 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 404 m (1,325 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 332 | |
| • Density | 208.8/km2 (540.8/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
1098
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| Surrounded by | Cully, Forel (Lavaux), Meillerie (FR-74), Puidoux, Riex | |
| Twin towns | Burgdorf (Switzerland) | |
Epesses was once a small town, or 'municipality,' in Switzerland. It's in the Vaud region, right by the beautiful Lake Geneva. This area is famous for making delicious wine!
On July 1, 2011, Epesses joined with a few other towns – Cully, Grandvaux, Riex, and Villette (Lavaux) – to form a new, bigger town called Bourg-en-Lavaux.
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History of Epesses
People have lived in Epesses for a very long time! We know this because Roman roads and old coins have been found there.
Epesses was first written about in 1453. Its name, Espesses, comes from a Latin word meaning "dense" or "thick." This might have been because of thick spruce forests in the area.
In 1536, the region of Vaud was taken over by Bern. Epesses then became part of the Lausanne administration. After a big change in government around 1798, Epesses was part of the Canton of Léman. Later, it became part of the Canton of Vaud.
Epesses became its own independent town in 1824. Before that, it was part of Villette. There was a plan in 2005 for Epesses to merge with Cully, Riex, Grandvaux, and Villette. However, the people of Grandvaux voted against it, so the merger didn't happen at that time.
Geography of Epesses
Epesses is located about 464 meters (1,522 feet) above sea level. It's about 10 kilometers (6 miles) east-southeast of Lausanne, the capital of Vaud. The village sits on a flat area among the steep vineyards of Lavaux. It's a beautiful spot, about 80 meters (262 feet) above Lake Geneva.
Epesses covers an area of about 1.59 square kilometers (0.61 square miles).
- Most of the land (62.9%) is used for farming, especially vineyards.
- About 29.6% is covered by forests.
- The rest (8.2%) has buildings or roads.
The area is small and stretches along the northeastern shore of Lake Geneva. The land goes up from the lake into the hills. The highest point, Bois de Romont, is 864 meters (2,835 feet) above sea level.
Epesses includes the main village and two small hamlets: Crêt-Dessus and Crêt-Lingerie. It shares borders with the towns of Cully, Riex, Forel, and Puidoux.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Epesses is described as: Per bend Argent and Gules, overall three Pine-trees Vert. This means it has a shield split diagonally. One part is silver (Argent) and the other is red (Gules). On top of this, there are three green pine trees.
Population and People
In 2009, Epesses had a population of 332 people. About 17.3% of the people living there were foreign nationals. Over ten years (1999–2009), the population changed by about 3.1%.
Most people in Epesses speak French (88.6%). German and Portuguese are the next most common languages.
In 2000, about 38% of the people were born in Epesses. Another 32.1% were born elsewhere in the same canton. About 17.9% were born outside Switzerland.
The age groups in Epesses (as of 2009) include:
- Children (0-9 years old): 10.6%
- Teenagers (10-19 years old): 11.8%
- Adults (20-59 years old): 56.5%
- Seniors (60+ years old): 21.2%
Most households in Epesses had an average of 2.3 people. About 39.2% of homes were owned by the people living in them.
The chart below shows how the population of Epesses has changed over time:
Economy and Wine Production
The main way people in Epesses make a living is by growing grapes and making wine. Many houses in the village center are rented by people who work in the 52 hectares (about 128 acres) of vineyards.
Epesses is known for its dry white wines, especially those made from the Chasselas grape. They also produce red wines like Pinot Noir and Syrah. Famous vineyards in the area include "Calamine" near Lake Geneva and "Le Dézaley" to the east.
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Epesses was low, at 2.4%. Most jobs were in farming (primary sector), especially agriculture. There were also jobs in manufacturing and services.
Many people who live in Epesses travel to other towns for work. About 11.3% use public transportation, and 50% use a private car.
Transportation
Epesses has good transport connections, even though it's not in a big city area. A road connects it from Cully to Chexbres. The nearest motorway, the A9 road, is about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away. This motorway connects Lausanne with Sion.
Epesses also has a train station that opened on April 2, 1861. There's also a daily bus service that runs between Cully and Chexbres.
Places to See
A part of Epesses is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces. This means the beautiful terraced vineyards are recognized as important to the world's heritage.
The entire village of Epesses is also part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means it's a protected area because of its historical and cultural importance.
Epesses has many old wine growers' houses, built between the 17th and 19th centuries. They create a very charming village look. The Saint-Jacques Church in Epesses dates back to the 14th to 16th centuries and has been repaired many times. The Bovard century building, from the 15th century, is also a protected historical building.
Twin Town
Epesses is twinned with the town of Berthoud, Switzerland. This means they have a special friendship and cultural exchange program.
Religion
In 2000, about 23.1% of the people in Epesses were Roman Catholic. About 52.9% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belonged to other Christian churches or other religions. About 14.29% of the population did not belong to any church.
Education
In Epesses, about 30.5% of the population has finished upper secondary education (like high school). About 17.2% have gone on to higher education, such as a university.
In the 2009/2010 school year, there were 39 students in the Epesses school district. The local school system provides two years of optional pre-school. Primary school lasts for four years, and there were 21 students in primary school. Lower secondary school lasts for six years, and there were 18 students in those schools.
In 2000, 20 students came to Epesses for school from other towns. However, 48 students from Epesses went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Epesses para niños
