Anières
Origin of the name Anières
The name appears in 1179, borne by a person: « [Guillelmus] dasneres ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]
Founding of Anières
Nobody knows who founded the village. The shore, however, has been occupied since the Neolithic by the pile-dwelling settlement of Anières-Bassy, attributed to the Saône-Rhône culture (Lüscherz group), and a cemetery was in use from the 3rd to the 7th century. In the Middle Ages the parish church of Notre-Dame belonged to the Genève priory of Saint-Victor, while the d'Anières family, vassals of the Faucigny, held the fief and castle of Bassy. Anières then belonged to the Savoyard bailiwick of Chablais until the Revolution. The Treaty of Turin joined it to Genève.[1][2]
History of Anières
Neolithic. Pile-dwelling settlement of Anières-Bassy (Saône-Rhône culture, Lüscherz group).[1][2]
3rd-7th century. A cemetery is in use. It was discovered south of the hamlet of Chevrens.[1][2]
1179. First written mention, in the name « [Guillelmus] dasneres ».[1]
Middle Ages. The parish church of Notre-Dame belongs to the priory of Saint-Victor. The d'Anières family, vassals of the Faucigny, holds the fief and castle of Bassy.[1][2]
14th century. Anières is part of the Savoyard bailiwick of Chablais, until the Revolution.[1]
15th century. The d'Anières family dies out at the beginning of the century.[1][2]
1536. Start of the Bernese occupation, which lasts until 1564/1567. The region adopts the Reformation.[1][2]
1567. After this date Genève, which keeps rights inherited from the priory of Saint-Victor, buys the fief of Bassy.[1][2]
16th century. At the end of the century the region is re-Catholicised. The parish is then attached to Corsier.[1][2]
1793. Attached to the Mont-Blanc department, then to that of the Léman in 1798.[1][2]
1816. The Treaty of Turin joins Anières and Corsier to Genève. Together they form a municipality of the new Swiss canton.[1][2]
1835. Demolition of the old church.[1][2]
1858. Disagreements over shared expenses lead to the split between Anières and Corsier in 1858.[1][2]
1890. Construction of the Protestant chapel.[1][2]
1950. Since then the population has grown because of the proximity of Genève, and many villas have been built on the lakeshore. The village and the upper part of the municipality remain little affected, with viticulture and market gardening.[1]
Population of Anières
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1860 | 315 |
| 1900 | 508 |
| 1930 | 374 |
| 1950 | 491 |
| 2000 | 2'031 |
| 2020 | 2'184 |
| 2025 | 2'657 |
Historic sites in Anières
Bassy. Hamlet of the municipality where the castle of Bassy stood, fief of the d'Anières family, vassals of the Faucigny, which died out at the beginning of the 15th century. Genève buys this fief after 1567.[1][2]
Chevrens. Hamlet of the municipality which, like Anières, depended on the priory of Saint-Victor.[2]
Protestant chapel. Chapel built in 1890.[1][2]
Lakeshore. Shore occupied since the Neolithic, lined since the second half of the 20th century with many villas.[1][2]
Remains in Anières
Pile-dwelling settlement of Anières-Bassy. Neolithic shore settlement of the Saône-Rhône culture (Lüscherz group).[1]
Cemetery. Cemetery used from the 3rd to the 7th century, located south of the hamlet of Chevrens.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Anières » (Fabia Christen)
- Anita Frei, « Anières, histoire et patrimoine », étude pour le plan directeur communal (2003, rapport final novembre 2006), État de Genève
- Office cantonal de la statistique (OCSTAT), Mémento statistique du canton de Genève 2026, tableau Population résidante par commune, en 2025
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (coordonnées)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Anières
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