Grandcour

Origin of the name Grandcour

The name is attested in 1212 as «apud grancort». It is said to come from the Latin «cortis», a rural estate: «Grandcort» would thus mean «large estate» (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Grandcour

At the origin was a villa about 1 km south of the present village, which in the early Middle Ages became «Grandcour-la-Ville», with its church. In the 10th century the settlement was moved and a new fortified town was built, with castle and church. None of the sources consulted names its founder; the first known lords are the Prangins, attested around 1200.

History of Grandcour

early Middle Ages. A villa 1 km south of the present village becomes «Grandcour-la-Ville», with its church.

10th century. The settlement is moved and a new fortified town with castle and church is built.

around 1200. The Prangins, first known lords.

1212. First mention: «apud grancort».

1293. Grandcour passes to Louis I of Savoy; the town henceforth enjoys the customs of Moudon.

1311-1397. The lordship is in the hands of the Grandson family.

1381. Founding of the «Milice bourgeoise», the oldest shooting society in the canton of Vaud still in existence.

1403-1440. Humbert of Savoy is lord of Grandcour.

1532-1736. The lordship belongs to the Diesbach family of Fribourg.

1536. Bernese conquest; the lordship, limited to the present municipality and Chevroux, falls under the bailiwick of Avenches; it is raised to a barony in the mid-16th century.

1563. The town hall is built.

1738. Abram Sinner has the classical castle built.

1756-1798. The lordship belongs to the Labat family of Geneva.

1803. Grandcour becomes the seat of a circle, in the district of Payerne.

1817. The castle is bought by the Oulevey family.

1825. The cheese dairy opens.

1849-1892. Twice-yearly fairs are held.

1903. The school is built.

1936. The water tower is built.

2008. Grandcour moves from the district of Payerne to the new district of Broye-Vully.

Population of Grandcour

Population of Grandcour

1550	60 hearths (households)
1764	431
1798	581
1850	716
1870	782
1900	725
1910	802
1941	719
1950	764
1970	642
2000	730
2025	970

Historic sites in Grandcour

Grandcour Castle. Classical castle built in 1738 by Abram Sinner, bought in 1817 by the Oulevey family; cultural property of national significance.

Church of Saint-Nicolas. Church predating the 15th century, renovated in 1946, attached to the parish of Ressudens.

Church of Notre-Dame de Ressudens. Parish church of the hamlet of Ressudens, to which Grandcour belongs; cultural property of national significance.

Town hall. Built in 1563, seat of the former Council of Twelve that ran the municipality.

Village of Grandcour. The village is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS).

Remains in Grandcour

Site of Grandcour-la-Ville. Location, 1 km south of the village, of the early medieval villa and church, abandoned when the settlement moved in the 10th century.

Lost hamlet of Vernay. Hamlet of the municipality that disappeared in the 15th century.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grandcour »
• Wikipédia, « Grandcour »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Localities of the municipality with a page

• Chesard
• Ressudens

Other villages near Grandcour

• Ressudens (VD)
• Chesard (VD)
• Chevroux (VD)
• Missy (VD)
• Corcelles-près-Payerne (VD)