The agricultural settlement of Giez is grouped around the church and castle on a ridge above the Grandsonnet. The village lies between the lake and the Jura, near Yverdon-les-Bains. Along the Grandsonnet stream, a wooded strip follows the water. The village layout, historic buildings and routes through the village give trip planning a clear cultural and scenic focus.
Church and castle: the village’s history
The Reformed church stands on an esplanade enclosed by a wall. Its unusually wide west porch extends across the entire façade and is supported by four curved oak pillars; several gravestones are visible at the edge. The church, formerly known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste, was built at the beginning of the 12th century. Its bell choir partly dates from the 12th century. The church was altered in the 15th and 16th centuries before being restored from 1902 to 1905. Saint-Jean-Baptiste served as the parish church for the residents of Grandson until 1438.
The building’s heritage designation is also part of its history: the Reformed church is listed in the cantonal monument register as a historic monument of Category 1. It has been protected since 25 November 1902 and has been included in the cultural property inventory since 23 March 1988.
Giez Castle has been documented since 1480. Its square tower dates from the 15th century, and its small staircase tower from the early 16th century. The castle is privately owned; the castle and grounds are protected by a classification order dated 22 October 1993. In the cantonal cultural property inventory, the castle and its agricultural outbuildings are listed as a Category B object. Another architectural feature is the Maison des Tourelles, with its hexagonal staircase tower dating from 1635. Remains of a Gallo-Roman villa were discovered to its northeast.
Landscape and routes through Giez
The road connection is also a useful point of reference for getting around: Giez lies on a secondary road linking Grandson and Vuitebœuf at the foot of the Jura range. A gravel cycling loop from Grandson passes through Giez and climbs towards Arnon. The Grandson–Giez–Vuitebœuf route also passes through the village. The two route links offer different experiences: the gravel loop heads towards Arnon, while the other route connects Grandson, Giez and Vuitebœuf, as its name indicates.
Local amenities and the regional setting
The Refuge de Giez is located at the edge of the forest. Indoors, it offers seating for up to 45 people, as well as outdoor seating. Facilities include a fitted kitchen, hot water, toilets and heating. The refuge also has a barbecue and two pétanque courts overlooking the lake. A local tradition is associated with the restored and reopened Four banal de Giez, which is used on the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer.
For a wider regional perspective: the Jura vaudois Regional Nature Park also extends across the Nord vaudois region. The park has a 523-kilometre footpath network, as well as hiking trails of varying lengths and levels of difficulty that are connected to public transport. The park’s hilly terrain and small roads are suitable for cycling. The routes presented there are also connected to public transport.
Discover more destinations: Yvonand, Sainte-Croix, Montagny-Près-Yverdon, Donneloye, Ballaigues, Bonvillars, Vaulion, Grandevent
See the overview of the wider region: Northern Vaud Jura.
