Le Grand-Saconnex
Origin of the name Le Grand-Saconnex
The name appears in 1128 as « Saconai ». It reportedly combines the adjective « grand », which distinguishes the place from Petit-Saconnex, with a Latin personal name of the Sacco type and the suffix -acum: the estate of a Sacco or his family.[1]
Founding of Le Grand-Saconnex
Nobody knows who founded the village. Polished stone axes and Roman tiles found in the Jonc spring show that the place was frequented long before. The church of Saint-Hippolyte dates back to around the 5th century. Eight further buildings succeeded it. In the Middle Ages the territory was divided into a large number of fiefs. The main lords were the bishop of Genève, the chapter of Saint-Pierre, the priory of Saint-Jean and the Saconay family, whose castle stood near the church. The community itself was made up of well-off peasants led by a procurator or syndic. The village then shared the fate of the Pays de Gex.[1]
History of Le Grand-Saconnex
5th century. Origin of the church of Saint-Hippolyte, around the 5th century. Eight further buildings succeed it on the same site.[1]
1128. First mention of the name, in the form « Saconai ».[1]
13th century. Construction of the Cistercian-style choir of the church of Saint-Hippolyte.[1]
1481. The sanctuary is mentioned under the dedication to Saint-Hippolyte.[1]
1536. The Bernese conquer the Pays de Gex, including Le Grand-Saconnex. After the Reformation the village comes under Protestant control.[1]
1590. The Genevans demolish the castle of the Saconay, located near the church.[1]
1601. The Treaty of Lyon cedes the Pays de Gex to France.[1]
1685. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Catholic worship is definitively restored.[1]
18th century. Alongside agriculture, until then the only resource, crafts develop, above all watchmaking.[1]
1815. The Treaty of Paris joins Le Grand-Saconnex to Switzerland.[1]
1847. Construction of the nave of the church of Saint-Hippolyte.[1]
19th century. Construction of pipe and sewer networks and installation of a pump for the water supply.[1]
1888. A narrow-gauge railway linking Ferney-Voltaire to Genève crosses the municipality.[1]
1905. Construction of the Protestant chapel.[1]
1909. Creation of the Reformed parish of Pregny-Le Grand-Saconnex.[1]
1960. End of the essentially rural character: the municipality becomes a suburban hinge between Genève and Cointrin airport, where the World Council of Churches, the European Broadcasting Union and Palexpo settle.[1]
Population of Le Grand-Saconnex
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1834 | 508 |
| 1850 | 538 |
| 1900 | 708 |
| 1950 | 1'492 |
| 1960 | 3'662 |
| 1970 | 6'720 |
| 2000 | 8'114 |
| 2025 | 12'481 |
Historic sites in Le Grand-Saconnex
Church of Saint-Hippolyte. Sanctuary whose origin goes back to around the 5th century, mentioned under this dedication in 1481, with a Cistercian-style choir from the 13th century and a nave from 1847.[1]
Protestant chapel. Chapel built in 1905; the Reformed parish of Pregny-Le Grand-Saconnex was created in 1909.[1]
Palexpo. Large exhibition centre of Genève located in the municipality.[1]
Remains in Le Grand-Saconnex
Finds at the Jonc spring. Polished stone axes and Roman tiles discovered in the Jonc spring.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grand-Saconnex, Le » (Jean-Marc Membrez), version du 17.07.2007
- 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 (nom officiel et coordonnées)
Other villages near Le Grand-Saconnex
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