Grimisuat
Origin of the name Grimisuat
The name appears in the 11th century (between 1001 and 1100) as « Grimisoch ». In German the village was once called « Grimslen ». Where does the name come from? That is still unknown.[1]
Founding of Grimisuat
Nobody knows who founded Grimisuat. The village appears in the 11th century as a parish of the bishop, before passing to the chapter of Sion. In the Middle Ages it may have belonged to the lords of Ayent, though this is not certain. A family of Grimisuat had a castle built here. On the right bank of the Rhône above Sion, the municipality brings together Grimisuat, the village of Champlan and the hamlets of Comera and Les Combes. Irrigated by the bisses of Ayent and Clavau, its land long remained given over to farming and vines.[1]
History of Grimisuat
11th century. Mentioned in the form « Grimisoch ». Grimisuat forms a parish dependent on the bishop.[1]
1193. The parish comes under the chapter of Sion, until 1798.[1]
13th-14th centuries. A family of Grimisuat is attested. It is at the origin of the castle.[1]
14th century. The castle passes to the nobles of Crista (Ambühl).[1]
early 16th century. The oldest building in the village serves as the priest's house.[1]
1718. Construction of the chapel of the Virgin.[1]
1798. After the French invasion, the municipality is incorporated into the dizain, then the district of Sion.[1]
1892. Opening of the carriage road linking Sion to Grimisuat and Ayent.[1]
1918. Renovation of the church of Saint-Pancrace. Start of a postbus service.[1]
1920. The canons of Sion stop appointing the priest.[1]
1946. The Capuchin father Paul Marie founds an institute for special education, later the socio-educational institute Saint-Raphaël.[1]
1957. Agreement between the consortium of the Grand Bisse d'Ayent, the municipality and Swisselectro for the construction of the Tseuzier dam.[1]
1971. Construction of the church of Champlan.[1]
1981. Construction of the present presbytery, replacing the old one.[1]
1983. The chapel of the Virgin becomes a mortuary chapel.[1]
1990. Opening of a home for the elderly.[1]
Population of Grimisuat
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1850 | 437 |
| 1900 | 608 |
| 1950 | 926 |
| 1980 | 1'691 |
| 2000 | 2'331 |
| 2025 | 3'978 |
Historic sites in Grimisuat
Church of Saint-Pancrace. Parish church renovated in 1918, housing 17th-century frescoes.[1]
Old priest's house. Oldest building in the village, used as the priest's house from the early 16th century and as presbytery until 1981.[1]
Grimisuat castle. Castle built by the family of Grimisuat (13th-14th centuries), which passed in the 14th century to the nobles of Crista (Ambühl).[1]
Chapel of the Virgin. Chapel of 1718, converted into a mortuary chapel in 1983.[1]
Champlan. Village of the municipality, given a church in 1971.[1]
Institut Saint-Raphaël. Institute for special education founded in 1946 by the Capuchin father Paul Marie.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grimisuat » (Bernard Monnet, version du 30.01.2006)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Grimisuat
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