Plainpalais
Origin of the name Plainpalais
The name comes from the Latin « plana palus », the marshy plain. The area was also called « banlieue de Neuve », after a gate of Genève. No dated first mention is known.[1]
Founding of Plainpalais
Plainpalais grew out of the suburbs of Palais, Saint-Léger and Saint-Victor, built outside the walls of Genève between the Rhône and the Arve, along the Roman road leading south. In the Middle Ages the part on the left bank of the Rhône came under the franchises of Genève. The left bank of the Arve, by contrast, depended on Lancy and then on the Bâtie-Meillé, and Savoy contested it with Genève until the Treaty of Turin. The municipality was created in 1798 under French rule, with a mayor and two deputies. It took in the present districts of Plainpalais, Jonction, Cluse, Tranchées, Champel, Bout-du-Monde, Acacias and Vernets.[1][3]
History of Plainpalais
Neolithic. First traces of occupation.[1]
Roman period. A suburbium develops along the Roman road leading south.[1]
1263. The Dominicans settle here; their convent, burned in 1321, disappears at the Reformation.[1]
1317. The left bank of the Arve, which depended on Lancy, passes to the Bâtie-Meillé.[1]
1445. The Vernets are added to the territory of the franchises of Genève.[1]
1473 and 1487. Founding of the plague hospital and of the church of Notre-Dame de Miséricorde. In 1487 the Hermits of Saint Augustine also settle here (Notre-Dame-des-Grâces).[1]
1534-1543. The suburb of Saint-Léger is razed for military defence reasons.[1]
1754. The Treaty of Turin assigns to Genève the left bank of the Arve, disputed with Savoy.[1]
1798. Creation of the municipality under French rule, with a mayor and two deputies.[1]
1856. Opening of the cantonal hospital.[1]
1882-1910. The municipality grows under the authority of its mayor, Charles Page.[1]
1896. The Swiss National Exhibition leaves a lasting mark on the district.[1]
1926. Construction of the exhibition palace, moved to Le Grand-Saconnex in 1980.[1]
1930. The inhabitants accept the merger with Genève by 2'673 yes to 1'535 no. The people of the canton approve it on 18 May.[1][4]
1931. The merger is carried out on 10 July: Plainpalais becomes a district of the City of Genève until 1958.[3]
Population of Plainpalais
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1690 | 520 |
| 1797 | 1'111 |
| 1814 | 1'189 |
| 1850 | 3'352 |
| 1900 | 19'667 |
| 1920 | 35'320 |
| 1930 | 36'315 (last figure before the merger) |
Historic sites in Plainpalais
The Plaine de Plainpalais. A vast urban diamond of about 640 by 200 metres, lined with tree avenues laid out from the 18th century around the future plaine. A skatepark was opened there in 2012.[1][5][6]
Former town hall and Musée du Vieux Plainpalais. The former town hall, at 35 boulevard du Pont-d'Arve, houses the Musée du Vieux Plainpalais, created in 1953 at the initiative of the Association des intérêts de Plainpalais.[7]
Site of the former exhibition palace. The exhibition palace built in 1926 was moved to Le Grand-Saconnex in 1980. Its grounds were redeveloped for the University of Genève (Uni Mail, Uni Pignon).[1][8]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Plainpalais » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 07.02.2018
- Bureau de statistique du canton de Genève, Rapport du Bureau de statistique pendant l'année 1931 (1932), tableau 4
- Ville de Genève, Compte rendu de l'administration municipale pendant l'année 1931 (1932)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Les Eaux-Vives » (vote du 18 mai 1930)
- Ville de Genève, « Explorer Plainpalais Jonction : la Plaine et ses environs »
- Ville de Genève, « Skatepark de Plainpalais »
- Ville de Genève, « Musée du Vieux Plainpalais »
- Université de Genève, plan des bâtiments, « Uni Mail / Uni Pignon »
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (coordonnées)
Other villages near Plainpalais
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