Granges-près-Marnand

Origin of the name Granges-près-Marnand

The name of the village is first attested in 881 in the Latin form «in fine Graniacense», then simply as «Granges» in 1228. The name probably derives from the Latin grangia (barn, farm storehouse), a common etymology for numerous Swiss and French localities called «Granges» (to be cross-checked). To avoid any confusion with the other Swiss villages of the same name, such as Granges in Valais or Grange-Paccot in the canton of Fribourg, the municipality adopted its current name, «Granges-près-Marnand», in 1952.

Founding of Granges-près-Marnand

Traces of human occupation in the municipal territory go back to the Bronze Age, with several tumuli identified, then to the Roman period, with remains of villae (to be cross-checked). The village itself took shape during the early Middle Ages, as attested by around twenty burials from this period discovered at the site known as l'Arenaz. This was not a foundation planned by a single authority on a precise date: the locality developed gradually around an agricultural and religious core. From the Middle Ages onward, it fell jointly under the chapter of Lausanne Cathedral and the priory of Payerne, which held seigneurial rights there (to be cross-checked).

History of Granges-près-Marnand

Bronze Age. Occupation attested by several tumuli exploited within the municipal territory (to be cross-checked).

Roman period. Presence of Roman remains, including remnants of villae (to be cross-checked).

7th century - early Middle Ages. About twenty burials from the early Middle Ages are laid at the site known as l'Arenaz; a first church is built on the site of the present church, the first of a series of four successive buildings up to the 13th-14th centuries (to be cross-checked).

881. First attested mention of the village in the Latin form «in fine Graniacense».

1228. The village is mentioned under the name «Granges».

13th century. Granges falls jointly under the chapter of Lausanne Cathedral and the priory of Payerne.

1536-1798. Under Bernese rule, the village depends on the bailiwick of Moudon and the châtellenie of Villarzel.

1637. Appointment of the first known schoolmaster of the village (to be cross-checked).

1723. Beginning of tobacco cultivation in the municipal territory (to be cross-checked).

1774, 1888, 1895. The village is affected by several floods (to be cross-checked).

1796. A communal revolt breaks out in Granges (to be cross-checked).

1798. Fall of the Bernese Ancien Régime; the village passes into the newly created district of Payerne, which it will remain part of until 2006.

1806. The hamlet of Brit, a former separate seigneury, is attached to the municipality of Granges.

1808. Construction of the current bell tower of the Reformed church.

1862-1965. Granges forms a joint parish with Marnand within the Free Church of Vaud (to be cross-checked).

1952. The municipality adopts its current name, «Granges-près-Marnand», to distinguish itself from the other Swiss localities called Granges.

1963. Construction of the Roman Catholic church of Saint-Jean l'Évangéliste, by the architect Pierre Dumas (to be cross-checked).

1970-1972. Restoration of the Reformed church.

1 July 2011. Granges-près-Marnand merges with Cerniaz, Combremont-le-Grand, Combremont-le-Petit, Marnand, Sassel, Seigneux and Villars-Bramard to form the new municipality of Valbroye, ending its status as an independent municipality.

Population of Granges-près-Marnand

Population of Granges-près-Marnand

1764	372
1798	394
1870	841
1900	942
1950	856
2000	1'146
2009	1'210

Historic sites in Granges-près-Marnand

Reformed church. The present Reformed church, whose oldest parts date from the 13th-14th centuries, succeeded three earlier religious buildings dating back to the early Middle Ages (to be cross-checked). Its current bell tower was built in 1808 and the whole building was restored between 1970 and 1972.

Saint-Jean l'Évangéliste Catholic church. Built in 1963 to plans by the architect Pierre Dumas, this church met the needs of the local Catholic community, distinct from the historic Reformed parish (to be cross-checked).

Hamlet of Brit. A former separate seigneury, the hamlet of Brit was administratively incorporated into the municipality of Granges in 1806.

Village listed in the ISOS inventory. The entire built-up village of Granges-près-Marnand is listed in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites (ISOS), recognizing the heritage value of its traditional built fabric.

Remains in Granges-près-Marnand

Bronze Age tumuli. Several Bronze Age tumuli have been identified and exploited within the municipal territory, evidencing human occupation dating back to this period (to be cross-checked).

Roman remains. Roman remains, including remnants of villae, have been uncovered within the municipality's territory, indicating continuous occupation during Antiquity (to be cross-checked).

Early medieval necropolis at l'Arenaz. About twenty burials from the early Middle Ages have been discovered at the site known as l'Arenaz, providing evidence of occupation of the site between late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Granges-près-Marnand »
• Wikipédia (FR), « Granges-près-Marnand »
• Wikipedia (EN), « Granges-près-Marnand »
• Wikipédia (FR), « Marnand (Vaud) »
• Flags of the World (FOTW), armoiries de Granges-près-Marnand

Other villages near Granges-près-Marnand

• Marnand (VD)
• Henniez (VD)
• Granges-sous-Trey (VD)
• Trey (VD)
• Villarzel (VD)