Giez Vd: Village History Between Church and Castle

Giez Vd lies between the lake and the Jura, near Yverdon-les-Bains. The agricultural village is clustered around the church and castle on a ridge above the Grandsonnet. A secondary road links Grandson and Vuitebœuf at the foot of the Jura range; Giez lies along this route. When choosing a hotel, it may help to first consider whether you want to focus your stay primarily on architectural history, the landscape or a route.

The Church as a Historic Centre

The Reformed Church of Giez, formerly Saint-Jean-Baptiste, stands on an esplanade enclosed by a wall. Its unusually wide western porch is particularly striking: it extends across the entire façade and is supported by four curved oak pillars. A few gravestones are visible at the edge of the porch. The bell choir dates partly from the 12th century; the church itself was built at the beginning of the 12th century. Until 1438, Saint-Jean-Baptiste served as the parish church for the inhabitants of Grandson. The church was remodelled in the 15th and 16th centuries and restored in 1902–1905.

In the cantonal heritage register, the church is listed as a Category 1 historic monument. It has been protected since 25 November 1902 and has been included in the inventory of cultural property since 23 March 1988. Its construction, later alterations and restoration provide a clearly dated history of a single building.

The Castle and Traces of Different Eras

The castle also has a long documented history: it has been recorded since 1480. Its square tower dates from the 15th century, and the small stair tower from the early 16th century. The castle and its agricultural outbuildings are listed as a Category B property in the 2021 cantonal inventory of cultural property; the castle and grounds have been protected under a classification decision dated 22 October 1993. The castle is privately owned. If you are considering visiting the interior, check access in advance.

Other periods are also represented in the village: the Maison des Tourelles has a hexagonal stair tower dating from 1635. Remains of a Gallo-Roman villa were discovered to its northeast. The former Château Folliet had a small entrance tower and was converted into a country house with half-hipped roofs in 1818. Together, these sites offer different points of connection with the past, from the Roman villa to the village buildings documented in historical records.

Grandsonnet, Routes and Local Facilities

A wooded strip runs alongside the Grandsonnet stream, while the village lies on a ridge above it. For cyclists, the Grandson gravel loop is a specific route option: it climbs through Giez towards Arnon. The Grandson–Giez–Vuitebœuf route also passes through the village. The gravel loop is described by bike type and direction; the other route is identified by the places named in its title.

The Refuge de Giez is located at the edge of the forest. Indoors, there is seating for up to 45 people, with additional seating outdoors. Facilities include a fitted kitchen, hot water, toilets and heating. The refuge also has a grill and two pétanque courts with views of the lake. For groups, it is useful to note the distinction: the capacity of up to 45 seats refers to the indoor area, while outdoor seating is listed separately.

Local baking also has its own established occasions. The restored and reopened Four banal de Giez is used on Swiss Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer. At the annual Lundi du Jeûne celebration, bread, plum cake, focaccia and pizzas are baked in the communal oven. For the 2024 event, around 150 pizzas were available from 11 a.m. to eat on site or take away. If you are interested in this aspect of village life, checking the dates of upcoming celebrations can help with your travel planning.

Discover more destinations: Montagny-Près-Yverdon, Yverdon-Les-Bains, Yvonand, Bullet Vd, La Praz, Bonvillars, Concise, Les Rasses

For the broader travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.