Giez

Castle Giez

Giez ( [ ʒje ] or [ ʒi ], Franco-Provençal [(a) ʣi ] ) is a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

Geography

Giez is located on 529 m above sea level. M., 4 km north- west of the district capital Yverdon- les- Bains ( straight line ). The village is located on a gently sloping to the south slope of a plateau at the foot of the Jura, between the valley of the Arnon, and the western shore of Lake Neuchâtel.

The area of ​​4.8 km ² large municipality territory, which includes a section at the foot of the Jura. In the south of the area in the lowlands of the river Le Grandsonnet enough west to the forest area of the Bois Tassonnières. To the north extends the communal land on the open slope down to the forest height Le Miriau, on 613 m above sea level. M. the highest point of Giez is achieved. To the north of this hill is the Bois de la Rape, covering the southern side of the valley of the Arnon. The course of the river Arnon forms the northern boundary of Giez. From the municipality surface 1997 6 % came from settlements, 36 % of forest and woody plants and 58 % to agriculture.

To Giez include the new housing estate Petit Montborget ( 565 m above sea level. M. ) north of the village as well as some individual farms. Neighboring communities of Giez are Valeyres -sous -Montagny, Orges, Vugelles -La Mothe, Novalles, Fontaines- sur -Grandson, Fiez and Grandson.

Population

With 400 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2012) Giez one of the small communities of the Canton of Vaud. Of the 95.1 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.5 % and 0.6 % speak Albanian (as of 2000). The population of Giez amounted in 1850 to 294 residents in 1900 to 289 inhabitants. After a period of migration (211 inhabitants in 1950 ) a significant population increase occurred particularly in recent years.

Economy

Giez was until the mid 20th century embossed mainly by agriculture village. Even today, agriculture, thanks to the fertile soils on the plateau of Giez has an important meaning, also have defined vegetable crops. For more jobs in our local small businesses. In recent decades, Giez has developed into the residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who work mainly in the near Yverdon.

Traffic

The community is located off the major thoroughfares, but is easily accessible by roads go from Yverdon or Grandson. The nearest links to the motorway A5 ( Yverdon- Neuchatel ) is located approximately 4 km from the town center. By Postbus course, which runs from Yverdon Novalles, Giez is connected to the public transport network.

History

The territory was inhabited in Roman times, this is proved by the discovery of remains of a villa. In addition, a Burgundian burial ground was discovered. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1011 under the name Gies. In the following years published numerous other spellings: Gizium (1100) Giei and Gis ( 1154 ), Gyz ( 1179 ), first Giez ( 1199 ), Giacum ( 1297 ) and Gye ( 1364 ). Its name is attributed to the Gallo-Roman Gaiacum ( courtyard of Gaius ).

In the Middle Ages had the Cistercian abbey skin - Cret and the monastery Romainmôtier land in Giez. Since the 12th century, the nobles of Giez are attested. Later, the place belonged to the rule Grandson and served Charles the Bold in 1476 before the Battle of Grandson as a military camp. After 1476 Grandson was a bailiff under the general rule of Bern and Fribourg. After the collapse of the ancien régime Giez belonged from 1798 to 1803 during the Helvetic Republic to the canton of Geneva, who came up then with the enactment of the Act of Mediation in the canton of Vaud.

Attractions

Today's Reformed village church of Saint- Pierre served until 1438 as the parish church of Grandson. Parts of the choir are Romanesque and date back to the 11th century. The nave was rebuilt in the 15th century; further renovations there was the end of the 17th century.

Near the church stands the castle, which was built in the 15th and 16th centuries for the family de Pierre. It consists of two wings that are connected by a square tower house and a hexagonal stair turret. The castle, which is still privately owned, was extensively renovated in 1816. Another interesting building is the Maison des Tourelles with a stair tower of 1635 and other small turrets. In the old town there are some typical farmhouses dating from the 17th to the 19th century.