The village appeared in 1458 under the name of Klein Chaffnat. It was part of the lordship of Montreux until the Revolution. It consisted of Chavannes-Top (direction Bréchaumont) and Chavannes-Petit (lower part). The village was destroyed by the Armagnacs in the fifteenth century. The Church of St. Matthew was built between the two parts of the village in 1772. The new village was then built around this building. By the mid-nineteenth century, it had a duty, a post office and ensured a diversified economic activity.
The half-timbered houses, its slender church, old washing being restored and numerous ponds are the heritage of a town to discover.