Grandval and the Abbey

4 April 2022

The village is located in the Grand Val (approximately 900 Meters Above Sea Level). The village of Grandval emerged after the establishment of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval, which was founded around 640.

The famous medieval Bible of Moutier-Grandval (now in the British Museum in London) and the cross of St. Germain (in the Musée jurassien d’art et d’histoire in Delémont) have given the village worldwide fame.

Grandval belonged to the abbey until 1797. After the French invasion of 1792, the village passed into the French departments of Mont-Terrible (1793-1800) and Haut-Rhin (1800-1813) before being annexed to Bern in 1815.

First mentioned in 962 and dedicated to St. Martin, the chapel became the parish church in the 14th century. After 1663, the church was rebuilt several times. It has been a reformed parish since 1531.

(Source and further information: Historisches Lexicon der Schweiz, François Riwart, translation Anja Lindner, 10.01.2006).