Gryon
Origin of the name Gryon
Name origin: the village is recorded in 1189 as « Griuns », then « Grions » in 1250, « Grion » in 1252 and « Gryon » in 1323 (forms after 1189: to be cross-checked). The origin of the name is uncertain; it may come from the Latin « creta », « chalk », with a suffix « -ōne » (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Gryon
The sources consulted give neither a founder nor a founding date for the village. The territory of Gryon belonged to the Bex area before 1189 (to be cross-checked). In the Middle Ages it gradually passed to the abbey of Saint-Maurice through sales and donations, such as that of Peter of Griuns in 1189. The village, set on a gentle rise at about 1'110 metres between the gorges of the Gryonne and the Avançon, was governed by a communal assembly.
History of Gryon
1189. First mention, « Griuns »; donation by Peter of Griuns to the abbey of Saint-Maurice, which gradually acquires the territory.
13th century. First mention of the chapel of Saint John, later used as a Reformed church.
1484-1798. Under Bernese rule, Gryon has a special status: the abbey of Saint-Maurice keeps the rights of justice; the court sits in Gryon and the court of appeal in Salaz.
1539. The Reformation is introduced; until then Gryon belonged to the parish of Bex, in the diocese of Sion.
1676. The boundary with Bex to the west is fixed.
Late 17th century. Bern appropriates the forests of the lordship of Aigle for the salt works, causing serious tension in Gryon.
1719. Village fire; the walls and stone bell tower of the chapel of Saint John survive it.
1722-1724. Partial rebuilding of the chapel.
1857. Opening of the carriage road.
1860. Construction of the first holiday chalet; summer visitors come from Lausanne and Geneva.
1869. First performance of Juste Olivier's song of the Mi-été of Taveyanne (to be cross-checked).
1871-1876. The poet Juste Olivier spends his last years in Gryon (dates: to be cross-checked).
1900. Opening of the Bex-Gryon-Villars rack railway; winter tourism appears around the same time.
1901. Construction of a bridge over the Gryonne, renewed in 1980.
1960. Construction of the Catholic chapel of Saint-François by the architect Rolf Borel (to be cross-checked).
1970s. Development of a tourist centre on the Les Chaux alp.
Population of Gryon
| 1850 | 403 |
| 1900 | 480 |
| 1950 | 697 |
| 2000 | 993 |
| 2025 | 1'546 |
Historic sites in Gryon
Reformed church (former chapel of Saint John). Chapel mentioned from the 13th century that became a Reformed church. Its walls and all-stone bell tower survived the fire of 1719; it was partly rebuilt in 1722-1724.
Taveyanne alp. Large alpine pasture north of the village, celebrated in Juste Olivier's song of the Mi-été of Taveyanne (to be cross-checked).
Les Chaux and La Barboleuse. Slopes east of the village; a tourist centre has developed on the Les Chaux alp since the 1970s.
Bridge over the Gryonne. Built in 1901 and renewed in 1980.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Gryon » (version allemande)
- Wikipédia, « Gryon »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Other villages near Gryon
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