View source for Vaud

{{short description|Canton of Switzerland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Vaud
| other_name              = Vôd ([[Franco-Provençal]])
| official_name          = Canton of Vaud<br/>{{nobold|{{native name|fr|Canton de Vaud}}}}
| settlement_type         = [[Cantons of Switzerland|Canton]]
| anthem                  = ''Hymne vaudois''<br />{{center|("The Vaudese Anthem")}}
| motto                   = ''Liberté et patrie''<br />{{center|("Freedom and fatherland")}}
| image_flag              = Flag of Canton of Vaud.svg
| image_shield            = Wappen Waadt matt.svg
| shield_size             = 80x80px
| shield_link             = 
| image_map               = {{maplink|frame=y|plain=yes|frame-align=center|zoom=6|type=shape|stroke-width=2|frame-lat=46.7|frame-long=8.25|frame-width=275|frame-height=175}}
| map_alt                 = Map of Switzerland, location of Vaud highlighted
| map_caption             = Location in Switzerland
{{hidden |ta1 = left| border = 1px solid grey | header = Map of Vaud | content = <br/>[[File:Karte Kanton Waadt 2010.png|250px]] }}
| coordinates             = {{coord|46|37|N|6|33|E|region:CH-VD|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Switzerland
| seat_type               = Capital and largest city
| seat                    = [[Lausanne]]
| parts_type              = Subdivisions
| parts_style             = para
| p1                      = [[Municipalities of the canton of Vaud|339 municipalities]]
| p2                      = [[Districts of Switzerland#Vaud|10 districts]]
| leader_title            = [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|Executive]]
| leader_name             = {{Lang|fr|[[Council of State of Vaud|Conseil d’État]]|italic=no}} (7)
| leader_title1           = [[List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland|Legislative]]
| leader_name1            = [[Grand Council of Vaud|Grand Council]] (150)
| area_footnotes          = {{Swiss area data||QUELLE-KT}}
| area_total_km2          = {{Swiss area|VD|km=yes }}
| population_footnotes    = {{Swiss populations ref|CH-VD }}
| population_total        = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-VD|CH-VD}}
| population_as_of        = {{Swiss populations data CH-VD|YM}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Statistik |first=Bundesamt für |date=2021-01-21 |title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) nach Grossregion und Kanton - 2008-2018 {{!}} Tabelle |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/asset/de/15304856 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Bundesamt für Statistik |language=de}}</ref> 
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = [[Swiss franc|CHF]] 56.898 billion (2020)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = CHF 70,250 (2020)
| iso_code                = CH-VD
| blank_name_sec1         = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Highest point]]
| blank_info_sec1         = {{convert|3210|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Diablerets]]
| blank1_name_sec1        = [[List of cantons of Switzerland by elevation|Lowest point]]
| blank1_info_sec1        = {{convert|372|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}: [[Lake Leman]]
| blank_name_sec2         = [[History of Switzerland#Order of accession of the cantons|Joined]]
| blank_info_sec2         = 1803
| blank1_name_sec2        = Languages
| blank1_info_sec2        = [[French language|French]]
| website                 = {{URL|https://www.VD.ch}}
}}
[[File:Logo canton de Vaud.svg|thumb|upright=0.2|The logo of Vaud]]
'''Vaud''' ({{IPAc-en|v|oʊ}} {{respell|VOH}}; {{langx|fr|(Canton de) Vaud}}, {{IPA|fr|kɑ̃tɔ̃ də vo|pron}}),<ref>{{cite web | title = Le français est la "langue officielle" du canton de Vaud... | url = http://www.lecourrier.ch/le_francais_est_la_langue_officielle_du_canton_de_vaud_what_else | access-date = 8 August 2016 | archive-date = 22 August 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822165825/http://www.lecourrier.ch/le_francais_est_la_langue_officielle_du_canton_de_vaud_what_else | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Canton de Vaud (Confédération suisse) | url = http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/EtatsNsouverains/vaud.htm | access-date = 8 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Article 3 : Langue officielle | url = http://www.vd.ch/themes/etat-droit-finances/lois-constitution/constitution/texte-et-commentaire/ | access-date = 8 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{langx|de|(Kanton) Waadt}}, {{IPA|de|vat|pron|de-Waadt.ogg}} <small>or</small> {{IPA|de|vaːt|}}; {{Langx|frp|(Quenton de) Vôd}}), <!--A more explicit source for official name would be better-->[https://www.vd.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/organisation/chancellerie/bic/fichiers_pdf/portrait-vaud_ang_2018_web.pdf Brochure "The Canton of Vaud"], Office of Information and Communications (BIC). Retrieved 29 January 2021</ref> more formally the '''Canton of Vaud''', is one of the [[Cantons of Switzerland|26 cantons]] forming the [[Switzerland|Swiss Confederation]]. It is composed of [[Subdivisions of the canton of Vaud|ten districts]]; its capital city is [[Lausanne]]. Its coat of arms bears the motto "Liberté et patrie" on a white-green bicolour.

Vaud is the third-largest Swiss canton by population and fourth by size. It is located in [[Romandy]], the [[French language|French]]-speaking western part of the country, and borders the canton of [[canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]] to the north, the cantons of [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] and [[Canton of Bern|Bern]] to the east, the canton of [[Valais]] to the south, the canton of [[canton of Geneva|Geneva]] to the south-west, and [[France]]<!--More details in geography section--> to the west. The geography of the canton includes all three natural regions of Switzerland: the [[Jura Mountains]], the [[Swiss Plateau]], and the [[Swiss Alps|(Swiss) Alps]]. It also includes some of the largest lakes of the country: [[Lake Geneva]] and [[Lake Neuchâtel]]. It is a major tourist destination, renowned for its landscapes and gastronomy.

The largest city is [[Lausanne]], followed by [[Yverdon-les-Bains]] and [[Montreux]]. As of {{Swiss populations Y|CH-VD|CH-VD}}, the canton has a population of {{Swiss populations|CH-VD|CH-VD}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-VD|CH-VD}} It is one of the four<!--VD, GE, NE, JU--> cantons where [[French language|French]] is the sole official language, and it is the canton with the largest number of French speakers. Formerly a Bernese bailiwick, Vaud joined the Swiss Confederation as an independent canton in 1803.

==History==
{{See also|Barony of Vaud}}
[[File:Roman_column_-_Nyon,_Vaud,_Switzerland.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Roman column in Nyon]]
[[File:Karte Bernische-Vogteien-Kanton-Waadt en.png|thumb|Bailiwicks of Bern in Vaud in the 18th century]]
Humans lived alongside the Vaud lakes in prehistoric times. Later, the [[Celtic people|Celtic]] tribe of the [[Helvetii]] inhabited the area. [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]'s troops defeated the Helvetii in 58 BC and as a consequence the [[Roman Republic|Romans]] settled in the area. The many towns established by the Romans include [[Vevey]] ({{langx|la| Viviscus}}) and Lausanne (''Lausonium'' or ''Lausonna'').

While the exact date of the founding of Aventicum is not exact, it was likely established during or shortly after Augustus' reign. There are still many Roman remains around the town today. Between the 2nd and the 4th centuries [[Alemanni]]c tribes repeatedly invaded the area, and in the 5th century the [[Burgundians]] occupied the territory. The [[Merovingian]] Franks later replaced the Burgundians. Their control did not last long either, and in 888 the area of the canton of Vaud became part of the [[Carolingian Empire]] (the successor state to the Merovingians). In 1032 the [[House of Zähringen|Zähringen]]s of Germany defeated the Burgundians. The Zähringens themselves were succeeded in 1218 by the counts of [[County of Savoy|Savoy]]. It was only under the counts of Savoy that the area gained political unity as the [[Barony of Vaud]]. A part stretching from [[Attalens]] to the river [[Saane/Sarine|Sarine]], in the north, was absorbed by the canton of Fribourg.

[[File:Lausanne Saint-Maire.jpg|thumb|upright| Built by the Bishop of [[Bishopric of Lausanne|Lausanne]] during the 15th century, [[Château Saint-Maire]] has been the seat of the cantonal government since 1803]]
As the power of the [[House of Savoy]] declined at the beginning of the 15th century, troops from [[Bern]] occupied the land. By 1536 Bern had completely annexed the area. Vaud's [[Protestant Reformation]] started with co-workers of [[John Calvin]] like [[Pierre Viret]] (a famous debate took place at the cathedral of Lausanne), but it was only decisively implemented when Bern put its full force behind it.

The Bernese occupiers were not popular amongst the population. In 1723 Major [[Abraham Davel]] led a revolt against Bern, in protest at what he saw as the denial of political rights of the French-speaking Vaudois by the German-speaking Bernese; he was subsequently beheaded.<ref name = HistoiredelaSuisse>''Histoire de la Suisse'', Éditions Fragnière, Fribourg, Switzerland.</ref> Later, inspired by the [[French Revolution]] of 1789–1799, the Vaudois drove out the Bernese governor in 1798 and declared the [[Lemanic Republic]]. Vaud nationalists like [[Frédéric-César de La Harpe]], born in Rolle, 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]] (Emperor 1804–1815), Vaud became (1798–1803) the [[canton of Léman]]. Unrest about the abolition of [[Feudalism|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]] (August to October 1802) that brought the end of the entire Helvetic Republic in 1803. In 1803 Vaud joined the re-installed [[Swiss Confederation (Napoleonic)|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 war|''Sonderbund'']] Catholic separatist movement, which led to intervention by 99,000 Swiss Federal troops under General [[Guillaume Henri Dufour|Henri Dufour]] against 79,000 separatists, in the Sonderbund War (November 1847). Separation was prevented at the cost of very few lives.

The current cantonal constitution dates from 14 April 2003, replacing the constitution of 1885.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url= http://www.vd.ch/themes/etat-droit-finances/lois-constitution/constitution/
 |title= Les 10 ans de la constitution: Canton de Vaud : site officiel
 |publisher= Vd.ch |access-date= 3 May 2014
}}
</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:LakeGenevaVeveyMontreux.jpg|thumb|[[Vevey]], [[Lake Geneva]], and the [[Swiss Alps]]]]
[[File:Joux.jpg|thumb|[[Vallée de Joux]], Jura]]
[[File:Montreux - Lake Geneva.jpg|thumb|[[Montreux]] and Lake Geneva]]
The canton stretches from [[Lake Neuchâtel]] in the north, where it borders the [[canton of Neuchâtel]], to [[Lake Geneva]] ({{langx|fr|Léman}}) in the south, where it borders the [[canton of Geneva]], the French [[départements|department]] of [[Haute-Savoie]] (lake border) and the [[canton of Valais]] ([[Chablais]]). In the [[Jura mountains]] in the west, the canton borders the French departments of [[Ain]], [[Jura (département)|Jura]], and [[Doubs (department)|Doubs]]. In the east, it borders the cantons of [[canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] and [[canton of Bern|Bern]]. The total area is {{convert|3212|km2|sqmi|0}}.

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 [[Geography of Switzerland|geographic regions of Switzerland]].

The areas in the south east are mountainous, situated on the north side of the [[Bernese Alps]]. This region is commonly named the ''Vaud Alps'' ({{langx|fr|Alpes Vaudoises}}). The [[Diablerets]] massif, peaking at {{convert|3210|m|ft|0}}, is the highest mountain of the canton. Other summits such as the [[Grand Muveran]] and the [[Tour d'Aï]] are visible from most of the canton. The area also hosts several popular skiing destinations such as [[Villars-sur-Ollon|Villars]], [[Les Diablerets (Ormont-Dessus)|Les Diablerets]] and [[Leysin]].

The central area of the canton, in contrast, consists of [[moraine]]s and is hilly. There are plains along the lakes. In the north, Avenches is in an [[exclave]] of the canton surrounded by the canton of Fribourg and Lake Neuchâtel. On the other hand, there are three enclaves of the [[Cantons of Switzerland|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.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.vaud.ch/en/canton-of-vaud/geographical-location/ |title = Vaud.ch - Bienvenue dans le canton de Vaud}}</ref>

The north-western part of the canton is also mountainous but in a more modest way with mountains generally not above {{convert|1500|m|||}}; the [[Jura Mountains]]. The [[Vallée de Joux]] is one of the most popular destinations in the region and also a centre of luxury mechanical [[Swiss Made|Swiss watch]] manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watchvalley.ch/e/home/ |title=Watch Valley - Home |access-date=26 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724155618/http://www.watchvalley.ch/e/home/ |archive-date=24 July 2009 }}</ref>

==Politics==
{{See also|Council of State of Vaud|Grand Council of Vaud}}
[[File:Salle du Grand Conseil du canton de vaud.jpg|thumb|The room of the [[Grand Council of Vaud]], the parliament of the canton of Vaud]]

===Members of the national council===
Source:<ref>{{cite web | last = The Swiss Parliament | title = Members of the National Council: Canton of Vaud | url = https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/Pages/mitglieder-nationalrat-kanton-waadt.aspx | access-date = 6 April 2017 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Swiss People's Party|UDC]] members
! [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|PS]] members
! [[Green Party of Switzerland|PES]] members
! [[FDP.The Liberals|PLR]] members
! [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|PDC]] members
! [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|PVL]] member(s)
|-
| [[Michaël Buffat]]
| [[Pierre-Yves Maillard]]
| [[Daniel Brélaz]]
|{{Interlanguage link multi|Laurent Wehrli|fr}}
| {{Interlanguage link multi|Claude Béglé|fr}}
| {{Interlanguage link|François Pointet|lt=François Pointet|fr}}
|-
| {{Interlanguage link multi|Alice Glauser-Zufferey|fr}}
| [[Ada Marra]]
| [[Valentine Python]]
| {{Interlanguage link|Jaqueline de Quattro|lt=Jaqueline de Quattro|fr}}
| ---
| ---
|-
| [[Jean-Pierre Grin-Hofmann]]
| {{Interlanguage link multi|Roger Nordmann|fr}}
| [[Sophie Michaud Gigon]]
| {{Interlanguage link multi|Olivier Feller|fr}}
| ---
| ---
|-
| [[Jacques Nicolet]]
| {{Interlanguage link|Brigitte Crottaz|lt=Brigitte Crottaz|fr}}
| {{Interlanguage link|Leonore Porchet|lt=Leonore Porchet|fr}}
| [[Isabelle Moret]]
| ---
| ---
|}

===Members of the council of states===
Source:<ref>{{cite web | last = The Swiss Parliament | title = Members of the Council of States: Canton of Vaud | url = https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/conseil-des-etats/membres-par-canton/mitglieder-staenderat-kanton-waadt | access-date = 6 April 2017 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! PS member(s)
! PLR member(s)
|-
| [[Adèle Thorens Goumaz|Adèle Thorens]]
| Olivier Français
|}

===Federal election results===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style ="text-align: center"
|-
! colspan="17"| Percentage of the total vote per party in the canton in the [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]] Elections 1971–2019 <ref>{{cite report |title=Nationalratswahlen: Stärke der Parteien nach Kantonen (Schweiz = 100%) |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |date=2015 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/dos/09.html |access-date=8 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802014002/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/dos/09.html |archive-date=2 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title=Federal election year – Election website of the FSO - Canton of Vaud |url=https://www.wahlen.admin.ch/en/vd/ |website=Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2" | Party !! class="unsortable" | Ideology !! 1971 !! 1975 !! 1979 !! 1983 !! 1987 !! 1991 !! 1995 !! 1999 !! 2003 !! 2007 !! 2011 !! 2015 !! 2019
|-
! [[FDP.The Liberals]]{{ref|a|a}}
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}"| || [[Classical liberalism]] || 26.0 || 25.6 || 27.1 || 30.4 || 27.6 || 26.4 || 23.5 || 25.0 || 18.5 || 14.6 || 16.3 || 26.8 || 23.3
|-
! [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP/PDC/PPD/PCD]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Christian democracy]] || 5.3 || 4.6 || 5.1 || 4.5 || 4.1 || 3.6 || 5.6 || 4.5 || 4.4 || 5.6 || 4.6 || 4.1 || 2.4
|-
! [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP/PS]] 
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Social democracy]] || 25.0 || 27.6 || 24.9 || 21.9 || 22.5 || 22.9 || 22.7 || 22.4 || 21.7 || 22.0 || 25.2 || 22.2 || 20.4
|-
! [[Swiss People's Party|SVP/UDC]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss People's Party}}"| || [[Swiss nationalism]] || 7.7 || 8.0 || 6.8 || 6.2 || 6.2 || 7.3 || 7.8 || 10.7 || 20.3 || 22.4 || 22.9 || 22.6 || 17.4
|-
! [[Liberal Party of Switzerland|LPS/PLS]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland|Swiss Liberal]] || 12.4 || 13.6 || 16.7 || 16.9 || 17.4 || 17.6 || 14.7 || 12.6 || 11.1 || 8.1 || 5.7 || {{ref|c|c}} || *
|-
! [[Alliance of Independents|Ring of Independents]]
| || [[Social liberalism]] || 4.1 || 1.6 || 0.8 || * {{ref|b|b}} || * || 0.9 || * || * || * || * || * || * || *
|-
! [[Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland|EVP/PEV]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Christian democracy]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 0.7 || 1.1 || 1.1 || 1.1 || 1.3
|-
! [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|GLP/PVL]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Green liberalism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 5.1 || 3.9 || 8.4 
|-
! [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|BDP/PBD]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Conservatism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 0.8 || 1.8 || 0.4
|-
! [[Swiss Party of Labour|PdA/PST-POP/PC/PSL]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss Party of Labour}}"| || [[Socialism]] || 12.2 || 10.7 || 9.3 || 4.1 || 3.5 || 4.2 || 8.9 || 7.8 || 6.7 || 4.7 || 2.1 || * || 4.1
|-
! [[Green Party of Switzerland|GPS/PES]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Green politics]] || * || 1.0 || 6.4 || 7.0 || 8.4 || 6.3 || 4.1 || 7.1 || 11.3 || 14.3 || 11.6 || 11.3 || 19.7
|-
! FGA
| || [[Feminist political theory|Feminist]] || * || * || * || 3.8 || 3.7 || 3.6 || 2.6 || * || * || * || * || * || *
|-
! [[Solidarity (Switzerland)|Solidarity]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|SolidaritéS}}"| || [[Anti-capitalism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || 2.6 || 2.1 || 2.6 || 2.1 || 1.8 || 2.9 || *
|-
! [[Swiss Democrats|SD/DS]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Swiss Democrats}}"| || [[National conservatism]] || 4.2 || 1.6 || * || 2.6 || 2.8 || 2.9 || 1.8 || 0.9 || 0.3 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 0.1 || *
|-
! [[Republican Movement (Switzerland)|Rep.]]
| || [[Right-wing populism]] || 2.9 || 3.1 || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || *
|-
! [[Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland|EDU/UDF]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland}}"| || [[Christian right]] || * || 1.0 || * || * || 1.1 || * || 2.7 || 2.7 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 1.1 || 0.7 || 0.3
|-
! [[Freedom Party of Switzerland|FPS/PSL]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Freedom Party of Switzerland}}"| || [[Right-wing populism]] || * || * || * || * || * || 2.5 || * || * || * || * || * || 0.0 || *
|-
! [[Romandy Citizens' Movement|MCR]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Geneva Citizens' Movement}}"| || [[Right-wing populism]] || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || * || 0.5 || * || *
|-
! Other
| || || * || 1.6 || 2.9 || 2.6 || 2.8 || 1.9 || 3.1 || 4.2 || 0.5 || 3.7 || 1.1 || 2.6 || 2.3
|-
! Voter participation % || || || 45.9 || 43.5 || 37.3 || 40.2 || 37.4 || 37.4 || 32.9 || 31.5 || 42.7 || 44.3 || 41.6 || 42.9 || 41.4
|-
|}
:{{note|a|a}} before 2009: FDP; since 2009: FDP.The Liberals
:{{note|b|b}} "*" indicates that the party was not on the ballot in this canton.
:{{note|c|c}} Part of the FDP for this election

==Political subdivisions==

===Districts===
[[File:Karte Kanton Waadt Bezirke 2008.png|thumb|Districts of canton of Vaud]]
The canton of Vaud is divided into 10 districts:
*[[Aigle District|Aigle]] with capital [[Aigle]]
*[[Broye-Vully District|Broye-Vully]] with capital [[Payerne]]
*[[Gros-de-Vaud District|Gros-de-Vaud]] with capital [[Échallens]]
*[[Jura-Nord Vaudois District|Jura-Nord vaudois]] with capital [[Yverdon-les-Bains]]
*[[Lausanne District|Lausanne]] with capital [[Lausanne]]
*[[Lavaux-Oron District|Lavaux-Oron]] with capital [[Cully, Switzerland|Cully]]
*[[Morges District|Morges]] with capital [[Morges]]
*[[Nyon District|Nyon]] with capital [[Nyon]]
*[[Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District|Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut]] with capital [[Vevey]]
*[[Ouest Lausannois District|Ouest Lausannois]] with capital [[Renens]]

===Municipalities===
{{Main|Municipalities of the canton of Vaud}}
There are 300 [[Municipalities of the canton of Vaud|municipalities in the canton]] ({{As of|2022}}).

==Demographics==
[[File:Lausanne img 0586.jpg|thumb|Lausanne, capital and largest city in Vaud]]
The population is [[French language|French]]-speaking and historically was mostly [[Protestant]] (Calvinist), dating from the early years of the [[Protestant Reformation|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 Catholic]]s (34%).<ref>{{cite web |last=Federal Department of Statistics |title=Wohnbevölkerung nach Religion |year=2004 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html |format=Interactive Map |access-date=15 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924182116/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.html |archive-date=24 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The population of the canton (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-VD}}) was {{Swiss populations|CH-VD|CH-VD}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-VD}} {{as of|2010}}, the population included about 28% foreigners, including many [[Italian people|Italian]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Canton de Vaud |title=International website for the promotion of the canton of Vaud - Population and social life |year=2010 |url=http://www.vaud.ch/en/lake-geneva-region/population-and-social-life/ |access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> The major population centres of the canton are: Lausanne ({{Swiss populations|CH-VD|5586}} inhabitants in {{Swiss populations date|CH-VD}}), [[Montreux]]-[[Vevey]] (Montreux: {{Swiss populations NC|CH-VD|5886}} Vevey:{{Swiss populations NC|CH-VD|5890}} inhabitants) and [[Yverdon-les-Bains]] ({{Swiss populations|CH-VD|5938}} inhabitants). The region around [[Nyon]] is often considered part of the agglomeration of [[Geneva]]. All of these are on Lake Geneva (called '''Léman''' in [[French language|French]]), except for Yverdon, which is on Lake Neuchâtel.

===Languages===
Main languages spoken at home in the canton (2020):<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/fr/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/sprachen-religionen/sprachen.html | title=Langues }}</ref>

[[French language|French]]: 82.40%<br>
[[English language|English]]: 9.10%<br>
[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: 7.51%<br>
[[German language|German]]: 5.15%<br>
[[Italian language|Italian]]: 5.00%<br>
[[Spanish language|Spanish]]: 3.88%<br>
[[Albanian language|Albanian]]: 2.37%<br>
[[South Slavic languages]]: 1.61%<br>
Other languages: 6.75%<br>
''Note: Respondents were permitted to choose more than one language.''

==Economy==
[[File:Lake Geneva Lavaux.jpg|thumb|[[Lavaux]] vineyards above [[Lake Geneva]]]]
The [[Capital (political)|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|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 at 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 Lake Geneva. Major lakeside resorts include Lausanne, [[Montreux]], and [[Vevey]].

The [[Union Cycliste Internationale]] is based in Aigle, and many of its defamation lawsuits against critics have been heard in the Est Vaudois district court of Vevey.<ref>[http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vaughters-defends-kimmage-ahead-of-uci-case Vaughters defends Kimmage ahead of UCI case], Daniel Benson, cyclingnews.com, 28 September 2012</ref>

==Education==
Two Swiss public universities are located within the canton:
* [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne|Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne]] (EPFL)
* [[University of Lausanne]] (UNIL)

Additionally, there are several public ''hautes écoles'' offering a limited selection of programmes:
* [[École cantonale d'art de Lausanne|Haute école d'art et de design]] (ECAL)
* [[HEIG-VD|Vaud School of Business and Engineering (HEIG-VD)]]
* [[Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale|University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland]] (HES-SO)
** [[Haute École de Santé La Source]] (HEdS-La Source)
** [[Haute École de travail social et de la santé]] (EESP)
** [[École hôtelière de Lausanne]] (EHL)
** [[Changins]] 
** [[Haute école des arts et de la scène]] (Manufacture)
* [[Haute École de Santé Vaud]] (HESAV)
* [[Haute école de musique]] (HEMU)
* [[Haute école pédagogique du Canton de Vaud]] (HEP Vaud)

==Gastronomy==
The canton is often referred to as the "culinary capital of Switzerland" and is renowned for its many cheeses, wines and charcuterie.<ref>[https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/features/switzerland-lake-geneva-food-guide Lake Geneva Region: Switzerland's gastronomic capital], greatbritishchefs.com. Retrieved 2020-0123</ref> It is also home to a high number of gourmet restaurants, such as the Hôtel de ville in [[Crissier]], founded by [[Frédy Girardet]].

[[Papet Vaudois]] is a very popular dish of the canton. It consists of potatoes and leeks accompanied by regional sausages, notably ''Saucisse aux choux''. [[Taillé aux greubons]] are a salted bakery specialty of the region consisting of [[Pork rind|crackling]] encased in [[puff pastry]]. Another of the canton's specialties is [[Carac (pastry)|carac]], a sweet tart consisting of a [[Shortcrust pastry#Types|sweetcrust pastry]] case ([[:fr:Pâte sucrée|pâte sucrée]]) filled with chocolate [[ganache]], covered by a characteristic green [[Icing (food)|icing]] or [[Fondant icing|fondant]] layer topped with a dot of chocolate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.patrimoineculinaire.ch/Produit/Carac/143|title=Carac|language=fr|website=www.patrimoineculinaire.ch|access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->

* [[Caroline Amiguet]] (born 1977), French actress and model
* [[Brigitte Balleys]] (born 1959) a Swiss mezzo-soprano in opera and concert.
* [[Raymond Burki]] (1949 in Épalinges – 2016) a Swiss cartoonist.
* [[Henri Dès]] (born 1940 in Renens) a Swiss French-language children's singer and songwriter
* [[Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros]] (1748 in Moudon – 1810) a Swiss painter, watercolourist and engraver 
* [[Pierre Gilliard]] (1879 in Fiez – 1962) a Swiss academic and author, French language tutor to the five children of Emperor [[Nicholas II of Russia]] from 1905 to 1918.
* [[Marcel Regamey]] (1905–1982), Swiss essayist and journalist
* [[Flore Revalles]] (1889 in Rolle – 1966) a Swiss entertainer, singer and dancer
* [[Anatoly Shteiger]] (1907 — 1944 in Leysin) a Russian poet
* [[Gabriel Tschumi]] (1883 in Moudon – 1957) Master Chef to Queen Victoria, Kings Edward VII and George V.
* [[Jean-Louis Wagnière]] (1739 in Rueyres – 1802) [[Voltaire]]'s secretary from 1756 to 1778.
* [[Charles-Emmanuel de Warnery]] (1720 at Morges - 1776) royal Prussian colonel, later a royal Polish general.

==See also==
* [[Franco-Provençal language]]
* [[Lausanne campus]]
* [[List of mountains of Vaud]]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{in lang|fr}} Laurent Flutsch and Séverine André (with the collaboration of Bernadette Gross), ''Y en a point comme nous. Un portrait des Vaudois aujourd'hui'' [There are none like us. A portrait of the Vaudois of today], Éditions Infolio, 2015, 368 pages ({{ISBN|9782884747615}}).

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Vaud | volume= 27 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge| pages = 953&ndash;954 |short= 1}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.vd.ch Cantonal government]
* [https://www.region-du-leman.ch/ Vaud Tourist Office]
* [http://www.scris.vd.ch/ Official Statistics Vaud (SCRIS)]
* [http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/kantone/vd/key.html Official statistics]
* [http://www.annuaire-vaudois.ch Vaud Directory] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.vd.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/organisation/chancellerie/bic/fichiers_pdf/canton-de-vaud-2015_angl_web.pdf ''The canton of Vaud in 2015'']

{{Cantons of Switzerland}}
{{Switzerland topics}}
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{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Canton of Vaud| ]]
[[Category:Cantons of Switzerland|Vaud]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Arpitania|Vaud]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in Switzerland]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1803]]