Choulex
Origin of the name Choulex
The name appears in 1153 as « Cholay ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Choulex
Nobody knows who founded Choulex. Place names and isolated finds at Briffod, Chevrier and Bonvard nevertheless show a Roman occupation. In the Middle Ages the parish depended on the priory of Saint-Jean-hors-les-Murs, and the village belonged to the lords of Cholay, vassals of the Faucigny. Remains of their fortified house survive. The marshes of the Seymaz then covered the low ground. Choulex later passed to Savoy and, after a brief union with Meinier, to Genève.[1]
History of Choulex
Roman period. Place names and isolated finds at Briffod, Chevrier and Bonvard attest a Roman occupation.[1]
1153. First mention in the form « Cholay ». The parish depends on the priory of Saint-Jean-hors-les-Murs.[1]
Middle Ages. Choulex is the possession of the lords of Cholay, vassals of the Faucigny, who have a fortified house there.[1]
1339. After this date a knight named Humbert de Cholay rebuilds in stone the bastide of Rouelbeau, today on the territory of Meinier.
14th century. In the second half of the century Choulex comes under the rule of the House of Savoy.[1]
15th century. The Butini family becomes owner of a large estate in the former hamlet of Miolan, which it keeps until the 20th century.[1]
1536-1567. Bernese interlude, then return to Savoy until 1798.[1]
1798. Choulex forms a single municipality with Meinier, until 1816.[1]
1816. The Treaty of Turin unites Choulex with Genève. The municipality is again separate from Meinier.
1837-1839. The medieval church is replaced by the church of Saint-André.[1]
1919. Start of the drainage of the Seymaz marshes, which occupied the low ground.[1]
20th century. Choulex keeps its farming activity while becoming a residential municipality.
Population of Choulex
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1822 | 430 |
| 1850 | 468 |
| 1900 | 430 |
| 1950 | 462 |
| 1990 | 799 |
| 2000 | 935 |
| 2025 | 1'245 |
Historic sites in Choulex
Church of Saint-André. Church built in 1837-1839 to replace the medieval church of the parish, attested from 1153.[1]
Miolan. Former hamlet where the Butini family owned a large estate from the 15th to the 20th century.[1]
Localities. Bonvard, Briffod, Chevrier, La Capite and Miolan. Briffod, Chevrier and Bonvard have yielded evidence of Roman occupation.[1]
Seymaz marshes. Marshes that occupied the low ground of the municipality and were drained only from 1919.[1]
Remains in Choulex
Fortified house of the lords of Cholay. Remains of the fortified house of the lords of Cholay, vassals of the Faucigny.[1]
Roman traces. Place names and isolated finds at Briffod, Chevrier and Bonvard, attesting a Roman occupation.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Choulex » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 29.12.2003
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, Inventaire PBC, « Ruines de Rouelbeau » (KGS 02604)
- République et canton de Genève, archéologie genevoise, « Le château de Rouelbeau - Meinier »
- 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)
Other villages near Choulex
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