Grancy

Origin of the name Grancy

First written mentions in 1141 as «Granci» and in 1202 as «Grantie». The origin of the name is not explained by the sources consulted.

Founding of Grancy

The site has been occupied since Roman times: at the place called En Allaz there are important remains of a villa built near the Roman road from Yverdon to Aubonne, occupied until the early Middle Ages (Burgundian cemetery). None of the sources consulted says who founded the medieval village or when. In the Middle Ages Grancy was divided into several fiefs belonging to various families, including the Senarclens family. The commune comprises the village of Grancy and the hamlet of Saint-Denis, on the bank of the Veyron.

History of Grancy

Roman times. A villa is built at En Allaz, near the Roman road from Yverdon to Aubonne.

early Middle Ages. The En Allaz site remains occupied; a Burgundian cemetery is laid out there.

1141. First written mention as «Granci».

1202. Mention as «Grantie».

1228. Grancy is the seat of a parish.

1351. First mention of the castle.

1416. The village has 17 hearths (households).

1536. With the Reformation, Grancy is attached to the parish of Vullierens.

Bernese period. Grancy belongs to the bailiwick of Morges; the village is governed by a Council of Ten.

1570. Grancy becomes a parish again.

1677-1798. The neighbouring village of Gollion is part of the lordship of Grancy.

1696. First mill mentioned at Saint-Denis; it remains in operation until the 19th century.

1745. Construction of the town house (Maison de Ville).

1764-1770. The church is rebuilt on the basis of the medieval church.

1798. Grancy becomes part of the district of Cossonay.

1819. César-Auguste de Senarclens, son of the last lord Auguste-Victor de Senarclens (1733-1807), sells the castle estate to Count Louis de Pourtalès (to be cross-checked).

1967. Closure of the second mill at Saint-Denis.

2008. With the new territorial division of Vaud, the commune moves from the abolished district of Cossonay to the district of Morges.

Population of Grancy

Population of Grancy

1416	17 hearths (households)
1453	12 hearths (households)
1550	10 hearths (households)
1764	279
1870	350
1970	226
2000	328
2025	541

Historic sites in Grancy

Grancy Castle. Castle mentioned from 1351; the present building dates from the Bernese period (17th century) and is said to have been built on the site and with the materials of the medieval castle (to be cross-checked, some sources date it to the 18th century). The last lord was Auguste-Victor de Senarclens (1733-1807); the estate was then sold several times, notably in 1819 to Count Louis de Pourtalès (to be cross-checked).

Grancy church (temple). Church rebuilt between 1764 and 1770 on the basis of the medieval church; Grancy has been a parish since 1228.

Town house (Maison de Ville). Communal building of 1745, a witness of the Bernese period.

Saint-Denis mills. Two mills on the bank of the Veyron, in the hamlet of Saint-Denis: the first, mentioned in 1696, operated until the 19th century; the second closed in 1967.

Remains in Grancy

En Allaz Roman villa. Important remains of a Roman villa built near the Roman road from Yverdon to Aubonne. The site was occupied until the early Middle Ages, as a Burgundian cemetery attests.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grancy »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Gollion »
• Wikipédia, « Grancy »
• Wikipédia, « Districts du canton de Vaud »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Grancy

• Cottens (VD)
• Gland (Vullierens) (VD)
• Vullierens (VD)
• Senarclens (VD)
• Chavannes-le-Veyron (VD)