Champel
Origin of the name Champel
The origin of the name Champel has not been explained.
Founding of Champel
Champel is a district of the municipality of Genève, on the plateau above the Arve. It was part of the territory of the former municipality of Plainpalais, created in 1798 and joined to Genève in 1931. Until the early 18th century the plateau remained sparsely inhabited: a few farms formed a hamlet at Bout-du-Monde, the land was used for vineyards and pasture, and the city's gallows stood there. At the end of the 18th century wealthy families built villas there. In the 19th century a spa using the water of the Arve attracted visitors. In the 20th century Champel became a residential district.[1][2][3][4]
History of Champel
16th century. After the Reformation, the ruins of the convent of Saint-Jean are used to strengthen the ramparts and for the gallows of Champel.[1]
1553. On 27 October the Spanish physician and philosopher Michel Servet, accused of heresy, is burned alive at Champel.[3][5]
18th century. The gallows of Champel fall out of use. The place of execution was called « le champ du bourreau ».[4]
Late 18th century. Wealthy families build villas surrounded by greenery. Champel becomes a sought-after district.[3]
1798. Creation, under French rule, of the municipality of Plainpalais, whose territory includes Champel.[2]
1853. The banker David Lenoir builds a villa. The words « mal ombré » painted by his wife after three plane trees were felled give the chemin de Malombré its name.[4]
1874. Foundation of the Bains thérapeutiques de l'Arve. The Beau-Séjour estate becomes a spa resort, with a 200-room hotel.[4][5]
1903. Genevan Protestants erect an expiatory stele to Michel Servet on rue de Beau-Séjour.[3][5]
1914-1918. The closing of the borders during the First World War forces the spa to close.[4]
1931. The municipality of Plainpalais is joined to Genève.[1][2]
1933. Alfred Bertrand's wife opens part of the family estate to the people of Genève. It becomes the Parc Bertrand.[3]
1942. The canton sets up an annex of the cantonal hospital on the Beau-Séjour estate.
1960s. Social housing (HLM) and broad avenues replace some of the villas.[3]
1991. Demolition of the Bains thérapeutiques de l'Arve.[5]
Historic sites in Champel
Tour de Champel. Neo-Gothic tower fitted out as a tea room for patients of the Bains thérapeutiques de l'Arve. Guy de Maupassant, Camille Saint-Saëns, Hippolyte Taine and Romain Rolland visited the resort.[4][5]
Expiatory stele to Michel Servet. Monument erected in 1903 near the place of the 1553 execution.[3][5]
Parc Bertrand. Former estate of the Bertrand family, partly opened to the public in 1933 and later bequeathed in full to the City of Genève.[3]
Centre sportif du Bout-du-Monde. Formerly the « Stade de Champel », created after the First World War. During the Second World War it was a transit site for thousands of refugees, including many Jewish children from France.[5]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Genève (commune) » (Martine Piguet, Jean Terrier, Charles Bonnet, Liliane Mottu-Weber, Irène Herrmann, Charles Heimberg)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Plainpalais » (Dominique Zumkeller)
- Ville de Genève, « Histoire et développement du quartier de Champel »
- Ville de Genève, « Anecdotes du quartier de Champel »
- Ville de Genève, « Curiosités du quartier de Champel »
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, geo.admin.ch, nom local « Champel (GE) - Genève »
Other villages near Champel
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