Epeisses
Origin of the name Epeisses
The forms « Espeyssie » and « Espessi » appear in 1220. What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Epeisses
Epeisses was born of a decision by Humbert, Count of Genève. To defend the Champagne and give the monks and their men a refuge, he allowed the prior of Saint-Victor to build a castle, found a settlement and station a guard of twenty families there. These came from the mestralie of the Champagne and Cartigny and were exempt from all jurisdiction and all service. Built on the cliff opposite the castle of La Corbière, the castle guarded the bridge of La Corbière. It lost its purpose in the 14th century and disappeared at an unknown date; only the settlement survives. The site was frequented earlier: a river port operated in the loop of the Rhône to the north from Roman times to the 18th century. The hamlet is now part of the municipality of Avully, in the Genevan Champagne.[1][2][3]
History of Epeisses
Roman times. A river port stands in the loop of the Rhône, north of Epeisses.[2]
1220. Humbert, Count of Genève, allows the prior of Saint-Victor to build a castle at Epeisses, found a settlement there and station a guard of twenty families. He promises to defend the place and to execute criminals sentenced to death by the prior's officers.[1]
14th century. The castle slowly loses its importance and becomes useless when the whole region passes to Savoy. The date of its destruction is unknown.[1][3]
1716. The parish of Avully is united with that of Cartigny. The new temple of Avully, partly funded by the inhabitants of Epeisses, is inaugurated.[2][3]
18th century. End of the use of the river port in the loop of the Rhône.[2]
Historic sites in Epeisses
Loop of the Rhône. Peninsula formed by the Rhône north of the hamlet, where the castle stood on the cliff and the river port lay.[1][2][3]
Castle of La Corbière. Opposite, on the other bank of the Rhône (municipality of Challex, Ain), the castle of La Corbière, held by the lords of Gex and claimed by the counts of Savoy. Epeisses guarded the nearby bridge of La Corbière.[1]
Epeisses training ground. Military training ground in the municipality of Avully, south of the hamlet.[5]
Remains in Epeisses
Castle ditch. A ditch cuts across the peninsula. It separated the castle, now gone, from the settlement, which alone survives.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Epeisses » (Catherine Santschi), version du 01.11.2004
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Avully » (Catherine Santschi), version du 03.09.2009
- Office fédéral de la culture, Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale (ISOS), « Avully » (fiche 1802, 3e version 02.2019)
- 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 (Epeisses, Avully, et place d'exercice, coordonnées)
Other villages near Epeisses
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