Grandvillars
Grandvillars (German Gran hamlet ) is a municipality with 3012 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) in the French department of Territoire de Belfort in the Franche -Comté.
Geography
The municipality is situated on the Grand Villers Allaine, about twelve kilometers south-east of Belfort near the border with Switzerland.
History
Even before the Roman colonization there was a village named Villario, which was called from the 7th century Grandi Villari. Grandi - Villari was on the important route between Mandeure and Augst. Excavations from the late 19th century confirm the long history of the place.
From about the 9th century was the town seat of the noble family de Grandvillars who owned besides Grandvillars also the nearby villages Morvillars and Thiancourt. Several times Grandvillars was the scene of historical incidents. So there was, among others, the 1226 peace treaty between Frederic II of Ferrette and Count Richard III. closed from Montbéliard.
Nevertheless, the area was to Grandvillars often violently disputed by local dioceses and counties. 1563 changed Jean Conrad de Grandvillars from the original coat of arms of the town by he included his mother's coat of arms, Marie de Tavannes.
A certain stability experienced the area of Grandvillars only after the French Revolution again. From about 1828 Grandvillars played a significant role in the iron industry. Grandvillars is today the capital of the canton of the same name.
Demographics
Attractions
- Church of St. Martin, built in 1700, expanded in 1840
- Castle Grandvillars
- Church of St. Martin, north side
- Church of St. Martin, south side
- Church of St. Martin, Interior
- Castle Grandvillars