Colovrex
Origin of the name Colovrex
The name may go back to a « fundum Colubracum ». It appears in 1186 as « Colovracum », in 1257 as « Colovray », and in the early 19th century the French cadastre writes « Collovri » and « Colovri ».[1][2]
Founding of Colovrex
The first trace of Colovrex is a chapel belonging to the abbey of Saint-Claude, mentioned in 1184. The locality itself appears in 1186. In the Middle Ages Colovrex and Valavran were mostly under the priory of Saint-Victor in Genève, which held rights there from 1257. Bellevue, for its part, belonged to the fief of Bâtie-Beauregard, held by the lords of Gex. There may have been a leper house at Colovrex. The hamlet now belongs to the municipality of Bellevue, like Vengeron, Les Tuileries and Valavran.[1][2]
History of Colovrex
1184. First mention of the chapel of Colovrex, belonging to the abbey of Saint-Claude.[1]
1186. The locality is mentioned in the form « Colovracum ».[1]
1257. Mentioned in the form « Colovray ». From then on the priory of Saint-Victor in Genève holds rights over the territory.[1][2]
Before the Reformation. The parish of Collex has two chapels, one at Colovrex, dedicated to Saint Eligius (Saint-Eloi), the other at Bossy.
1806-1807. The French cadastre of Collex-Bossy records the « chemin de Collex à Colovri ». That of Pregny (1807) a « chemin de Chambesy à Collovri ».[1]
1830. The Atlas Mayer calls both roads from Pregny to Colovrex « chemin de Colovrex ».[1]
1855. Creation of the municipality of Bellevue, of which Colovrex is now one of the hamlets.[1][2]
1896. The Topographic Atlas of Switzerland classes the Collex-Colovrex section as a « route de 3 à 5m de largeur ».[1]
Historic sites in Colovrex
Old road from Genève to Collex. Historic route of regional importance (Genève, Pregny-Chambésy, Collex) passing through Colovrex, recorded in the cadastres of 1806-1807 and the Atlas Mayer of 1830.[1]
Sources
- Office fédéral des routes, Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), GE 123 « Genève - Pregny-Chambésy - Collex (- Sauverny, F) » (état août 1996)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bellevue » (Martine Piguet), version du 10.05.2004 (version allemande lue)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Collex-Bossy » (Jacques Barrelet), version du 21.01.2004
- 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 (Colovrex, Bellevue, coordonnées)
Other villages near Colovrex
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