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Villages / Geneva / Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

Site Canton of Geneva · Uninhabited site (municipality of Lancy, on the boundary with the municipality of Genève)
Part of the municipality of Lancy
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

The word « bâtie » (or « bastie ») means a castle in Old French and, by extension, its fortified enclosure. The second element appears in the forms « Meslier », « Meiller » and « Millier »; its origin is unexplained. The spelling « Bastie-Mellié » is also used.[1][3][4]

Founding of Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

La Bâtie-Meillé is the site of a vanished medieval castle on the Lancy plateau, in a commanding position over the left bank of the Arve near its confluence with the Rhône, where the Bois de la Bâtie stands today. The de Ternier family received the lordship of La Bâtie-Meillé from the Count of Genève. The fief was granted to it in 1317 and extended into the parish of Lancy. The fortress was built in 1318-1320 by Gérard de Ternier. In 1756 the fief was attached to the territory of Plainpalais.[1][3][4]

History of Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

1317. The fief of La Bâtie-Meillé is granted to the de Ternier family. It extends into the parish of Lancy.[1]

1318-1320. Gérard de Ternier has the fortress built on a position overlooking the left bank of the Arve. Édouard de Savoie attacks it without success.[1]

1445. The Church of Genève and the community of the citizens of Genève acquire part of the bank of the Arve, Les Vernets, to straighten the river's course.[1]

16th century. The castle falls into ruin. The Reformation ends the castle wars and the three other bâties of the Pays de Genève disappear during this century.[3][4]

18th century. The ruins of the castle are still visible.[1]

1756. After several owners, Henri-Joseph Milliet, Marquis de Challes, sells the fief to the Seigneurie of Genève. It is attached to the territory of Plainpalais.[1]

1868. The brothers William and Auguste Turrettini buy the woodland plots and soon give them to the City of Genève, on condition that they remain open to the inhabitants.[4]

1941-1949. The railway tunnel under La Bâtie is bored during the construction of the La Praille goods station.[2]

1992. Decree of the Council of State of 24 September 1992 on the name of the Parc du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, which recalls the fortress.[3]

Historic sites in Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

Bois de la Bâtie. Woodland and public park on the site of the former fortress, above the confluence of the Arve and the Rhône. It contains an animal park created by the City of Genève in 1982.[4][5]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bâtie, La » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 11.06.2026
  2. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lancy » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 10.03.2009
  3. République et canton de Genève, noms géographiques, « Parc du Bois-de-la-Bâtie »
  4. Ville de Genève, « Le Bois de la Bâtie »
  5. Ville de Genève, « Parc animalier du Bois de la Bâtie »
  6. geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Bois de la Bâtie, coordonnées approchées)

Other villages near Château de la Bâtie-Meillé

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