Grandval, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grandval
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Village Church of Grandval
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 Grandval
Location in Switzerland
Grandval
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Jura bernois | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.25 km2 (3.19 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 588 m (1,929 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 388 | |
| • Density | 47.03/km2 (121.81/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2745
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| Surrounded by | Eschert, Belprahon, Roches, Crémines, Rebeuvelier (JU), Gänsbrunnen (SO) | |
Grandval is a small town, also called a municipality, located in Switzerland. It's part of the Jura bernois district in the canton of Bern. People in Grandval mostly speak French, as it's in the French-speaking part of the Bernese Jura. Long ago, it was sometimes known by its German names, Granfel or Granfelden, but these names are not used anymore.
Contents
Discovering Grandval's Past
Early Settlements and Roman Times
The area where Grandval is today has a very long history. We know this because parts of an old Roman road have been found there. This road shows that people lived and traveled through this valley many centuries ago.
Around the year 640, a special place called the Moutier-Grandval Abbey was built near Grandval. An abbey is like a monastery where monks live and work. The town of Moutier later grew up around this important abbey.
Grandval itself was first mentioned in old writings around the year 900. It was called Grandemvallem back then, which means "great valley."
The Village Church and Its Changes
The village chapel, dedicated to St. Martin, was first talked about in 962. By the 1300s, it had become the main parish church for Grandval and many nearby communities.
In 1531, something big happened: the village and its church decided to join the Protestant Reformation. This was a major change in how people practiced their faith.
The church building itself was often being rebuilt or improved over many centuries. Big construction projects happened in 1701-06 and again in 1927.
Grandval Through the Centuries
For most of its history, the Abbey owned the village of Grandval. This meant the Abbey had a lot of control over the land and the people.
In 1797, after the French won some important battles, Grandval became part of France. It was first in a French area called Mont-Terrible, and then later in Haut-Rhin.
But after Napoleon was defeated, Grandval was given to the Canton of Bern in 1815. This was decided at a big meeting called the Congress of Vienna.
From Farms to Factories
Until about 1900, most people in Grandval worked in farming. There were also small home businesses making things like pottery, watch parts, and old-fashioned guns called arquebuses.
Things started to change when factories grew in nearby Moutier. Also, a railroad was built between Solothurn and Moutier from 1904 to 1908. This made it easier to transport goods and people.
Some factories moved to Crémines, a nearby town, and stayed there. Today, more than half of the people who work in Grandval are in the industrial sector. This means they work in factories or related businesses.
Exploring Grandval's Landscape
Grandval covers an area of about 8.21 square kilometers (which is about 3.17 square miles).
How the Land is Used
- About 44.2% of Grandval's land is used for farming. This includes fields for crops, pastures for animals, and areas for grazing in the mountains.
- A large part, about 50.4%, is covered by forests. This means lots of trees and natural areas.
- About 4.1% of the land has buildings or roads on it. This is where people live and travel.
- A small amount, 0.2%, is rivers or lakes.
- Another small part, 0.5%, is land that isn't used for anything, like rocky areas.
Most of the water in Grandval is from flowing rivers and streams.
Where Grandval is Located
The municipality of Grandval is mainly located in a valley called Grand Val, also known as the valley of Moutier. Some homes are also found on a part of Mont Raimeux, which is a mountain.
In 2010, Grandval joined a new administrative area called Arrondissement administratif Jura bernois. This was a change from its old district.
Grandval's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Grandval is quite simple and unique. It shows a design that is split in half. The top half is red, and the bottom half is gold. In the middle, there is a letter "G" which stands for Grandval. The interesting part is that the "G" is colored opposite to the background: it's gold on the red part and red on the gold part. This is called "counterchanged."
Understanding Grandval's People
Grandval has a population of about 340 people (as of December 2011).
Who Lives in Grandval
- As of 2010, about 5.7% of the people living in Grandval are from other countries.
- Over the past 10 years (2001-2011), the population has slightly decreased.
- Most people (85.6%) in Grandval speak French as their main language.
- The second most common language is German (12.0%).
- A small number of people also speak Italian.
In 2008, about 49.1% of the population was male, and 50.9% was female. Most of the people living in Grandval are Swiss citizens.
Age Groups in Grandval
As of 2011, here's how the population is divided by age:
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 17.9% of the population.
- Adults (20–64 years old) make up 63.2%.
- Seniors (over 64 years old) make up 18.8%.
Homes and Families
In 2010, there were 42 homes where only one person lived. There were also 11 homes with five or more people living together.
Most apartments in Grandval are lived in all the time. A smaller number are used only during certain seasons, like for holidays.
Population Changes Over Time
The chart below shows how Grandval's population has changed over many years:
Important Historic Buildings
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Grandval has two buildings that are very important to Switzerland's history and culture. They are called the Maison De La Dîme and the Maison du Banneret Wisard. These buildings are listed as heritage sites of national significance. This means they are protected and valued for their historical importance.
Grandval's Economy
In 2011, the unemployment rate in Grandval was 2.23%. This means a small percentage of people looking for work couldn't find a job.
Jobs in Grandval
As of 2008, there were 92 people working in Grandval. These jobs are divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: 22 people worked in this sector, mostly in farming. There were about 10 businesses related to farming.
- Secondary sector: 32 people worked here, mainly in manufacturing (making things in factories) and construction (building things). There were 6 businesses in this sector.
- Tertiary sector: 38 people worked in this sector, which includes services like shops, restaurants, and education. There were 8 businesses in this sector.
Many people who live in Grandval also work there. However, more people travel out of Grandval for work than those who come into Grandval for work.
How People Get to Work
Of the people who work in Grandval:
- 13.8% use public transportation, like buses or trains.
- 50.5% use a private car to get to their jobs.
Religion in Grandval
According to a census in 2000, here's a look at the religious beliefs of people in Grandval:
- 195 people (53.0%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, which is a Protestant church.
- 96 people (26.1%) were Roman Catholic.
- Some people (7.61%) belonged to other Christian churches.
- A small number (0.82%) were Islamic.
- 35 people (9.51%) said they didn't belong to any church, or were agnostic (not sure about God) or atheist (don't believe in God).
- A few people (2.99%) didn't answer the question about their religion.
Learning in Grandval
Education is important in Grandval. About 51.1% of the adults have finished upper secondary education, which is like high school. Also, 8.1% have gone on to higher education, like university or a specialized college.
The School System in Bern
The Canton of Bern has a specific school system:
- It starts with one year of optional Kindergarten.
- Then, there are six years of Primary school.
- After that, students go to three years of mandatory lower Secondary school. In this stage, students are grouped based on their abilities.
- After lower Secondary, students can choose to continue their schooling or start an apprenticeship, where they learn a trade while working.
Students in Grandval Schools
During the 2011-12 school year, 35 students attended classes in Grandval.
- There were no kindergarten classes in Grandval that year.
- There was one primary class with 16 students. Some of these students were not Swiss citizens, and some spoke a different language at home than in the classroom.
- There was also one lower secondary class with 19 students. A few of these students also spoke a different language at home.
In 2000, 55 students went to school in Grandval. Most of them (40 students) came from other towns to attend school there. Also, 46 students who lived in Grandval went to schools outside the municipality.
Images for kids
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Interior of Grandval parish church
See also
In Spanish: Grandval (Berna) para niños
