Seynod, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Seynod is an old French town located in the department of Haute-Savoie, in region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. At 1 st January 2017, it merged with the municipalities of Annecy, Annecy-le-Vieux, Cran-Gevrier, Meythet and Pringy, to become a new municipality, Annecy, which has 128,422 inhabitants (2014 data). The former municipality of Seynod includes the former municipality of Vieugy since 1965 and that of Balmont since 1972. Its total population in1 st January 2017is of 21,556 inhabitants, it is the 2 nd historical municipality of the agglomeration.

History
The municipalities of Vieugy, Balmont and Seynod wished to come together to better ensure their development. The prefectural decree of February 23, 1965 authorizes the merger of Vieugy (381 inhabitants) and Seynod (2385 inhabitants) and that of December 29, 1972 formalizes the merger-association requested by Balmont (200 inhabitants). The Seynodian territory grew from 850 to 1917 hectares, including 69 of forests and 43 of wetlands.

Prehistory
Dating from the Neolithic era, a green stone ax was found in Seynod, in 1800, by Charles Marteaux, in a field on the borders of the Mas de Brezi (Bressis) and La Brunaz (Brône), dated from the Late Neolithic (3000-2000 BC) and is kept at the museum-castle of Annecy, which makes it a precise testimony of this period.

At the time of La Tène, at Balmont, the existence of an enclosure made up of a 60 m x 100 m oval “doline” (small circular bowl with a flat bottom) was reported in the wood of Varvets (or Vervets), overlooking the Esparris stream. The perimeter of this sinkhole was raised by accumulations of pebbles forming an enclosure located about 500 m north-northeast of Balmont from which it is separated by a marshy depression called “the Marais”. Mr. B. Ruffet classifies this enclosure from the time of La Tène.

Gallo-Roman period
Many Gallo-Roman sites remind us that Saginatum’s activity was intense. Several burials, as well as objects of ceramic 3rd and iv th centuries, were discovered in the hamlet of Branchy. Seynod is located on the route of the Roman road built in the iii th century, connecting the vicus Boutae (Annecy) to Lemencum (Chambery) via Aquae (Aix-les-Bains). It crossed the villas of Saginatum (Seynod), Coesiacus (Cesy), Bissunacus (Bessonnex), Veratiacus (Vraisy). In Seynod, on the buttresses of the church, a Roman inscription was included in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments in 1995.

Middle Ages
In the capital, the foundations of a large building, tiles, pottery and marble fragments were discovered at the eastern end of the cemetery. From the rubble were removed a knife, iron hinges, glass and a molasse plate attributed to the Burgundians Lothair’s endowment to his wife Thieteberge, in 867, mentions the domains of Belmontem (Balmont), Sagenodum (Seynod) and Viriglium (Vergloz), as belonging to the royal domain. In the current state of research, it is the oldest document certifying in a formal way the existence of the three former municipalities. Adonation charter by William II of Geneva in favor of the ladies of Saint Catherine, datedJune 10, 1227, mentions ” Seymeno “.

20th century
Between June 15 and July 16, 1944, 40 resistance fighters were shot in Vieugy, in four episodes. On August 29 and September 2, 1944, in retaliation for the shootings mentioned above, 80 German prisoners of war, including several soldiers of the SS Polizei Regiment 19, were killed by the French partisans.

Until the 1960s Seynod remained a peaceful rural town where agricultural activity predominated, mainly dairy farming which supplied the fruit farms in Chaux (1864-1985)., Vieugy and Malaz. In 1979, Seynod is still the 8 th agricultural town of the department. The town hosted its first factory (Métrix) in 1948, in 1966 SNR set up a unit in Les Césardes. Therefore, Seynod is committed to the diversification of its economic activity with the development of the industrial zone of Vovray, in close collaboration with Annecy, and the creation of zones of economic activities (Césardes, Val Vert, Cap Périaz, etc.) which in the 1990s hosted more than 800 companies employing some 7,000 people.

Seynod kicked off its urbanization in 1955 with the construction of 114 pavilions in Les Bressis. The construction of five towers at Barral in 1967 and the start-up of the ZAC de Champ Fleuri (2,500 inhabitants) in 1968 are part of this dynamic which will continue to grow over the years. Residential housing is concentrated around the main villages (Branchy, Balmont, Vieugy). The population rose from 794 inhabitants in 1947 to 8,214 in 1973; in 2016, with more than 20,000 inhabitants, Seynod was the fifth town in Haute-Savoie. At the same time, to cope with this demographic explosion, work is being done on numerous community facilities: schools, secondary schools, vocational high schools, gymnasium, auditorium (1982), shopping center, swimming pool (1994). In 2006, Seynod inaugurates its new town center organized around its enlarged town hall. The auditorium has been renovated, a media library built and a large square lined with shops and services, fitted out.

21th century
In January 2017, Seynod merged with Annecy, Annecy-le-Vieux, Cran-Gevrier, Meythet and Pringy to form a large commune of Annecy. Seynod becomes a delegated municipality.

Economy
In the swampy areas, “blache” was used for livestock litter and second-grade “hay” for goats and heifers were used in the past. The survey of 1755, counted 53 families of farmers cultivating wheat, in particular. Several mills, built on the Trois Fontaines stream (mill of Hell, mill Gaillard, mill the Last), work the grain. In 1889, the fruit farm was built one year after that of Vieugy and twenty-five years after that of Chaux.

In 1901, artisans and traders settled in the town. In 1936 there were then 9 traders, 22 artisans and a large factory (Métrix – what became of it?). In 1932, the construction of a new building at the Vieugy fruit farm attests to the importance of dairy farming on the slopes of the Semnoz.

Until the middle of the xx th century, Seynod does not undergo profound change. In the 1960s, the town encouraged the establishment of businesses in the industrial zone of Vovray, of which it partially owned. Thus, the decline of agriculture and the growth of Annecy do not condemn Seynod to the fate of a dormitory town and a peri-urban commercial area. The merger of Vieugy reintroduces a little countryside in the territory of the municipality but it also opens the way to the urbanization of the foothills of Semnoz. There are then 80 farms on 800 hectares. In 1966, the SNR built a production unit in the town. Around the same time (to be specified), the Millet factoryis installed above the RN 201, rue de la Taillée (the factory closed in the 1990s and apartment buildings took its place in 2005).

Four years later, the municipality opened a new industrial zone along the RN 201. From 1975, new activity zones appeared: Césardes, Val-vert-Sainte-Catherine. The number of farms is decreasing: 73 in 1979, 51 in 1988, less than 45 in 1995. Along with industry and services, Seynod hosts several hotels, now three in number, thus strengthening the possibilities of accommodation in the south of the agglomeration with just over 460 rooms: Mercure-Annecy-Sud (Seynod center, 66 rooms), Altess Hôtel (Périaz, 41 rooms), Fast hotel (Cézardes, 48 rooms). Hotel accommodation capacity was considerably increased in 2010 with the opening of the Appart-City d’Annec-sud, with 306 rooms, near the restaurants “Le 76” (Mercure) and “Le grain de Sel” (Hôtel de Ville). Furnished accommodation and gîtes are also available at “La Ferme de Chateau Vieux” between Périaz and Vieugy.

Historical heritage
Seynod has 4 castles and 1 noble house:

Orlier castle
The Château d’Orlier (or Orlyer, Orlyé), located near the church of Balmont, only a round tower with a conical roof is recognizable. Its exact origin is unknown. However, we know that xiv th century it belonged to the lords Orlier.

The exact origin of this castle is unknown. Located near the Church of Balmont, it probably dates from the 14 th century and belonged for a time to the family Orlier. A round tower with a conical roof has been preserved. The house of the nobles of Orlier de Viuz-la-Chiesaz, located in Sacconges, where it can already be found in 1642.

La Perriaz castle
This castle sold as national property during the Revolution was transformed into a farm. The castle Periaz (or Peyriaz), located 500 meters downstream of Chateauvieux, on the road of Aix, this fortified dates back to the xvi th century, when it was acquired by the family look. Its plan consists of a rectangular building with two triangular towers pierced with loopholes and on each one a dovecote opening in full corner ridge. In the xvii th century, the seigneury of Periaz belonged to the Chanay branch of Regards de Villeneuve. Confiscated during the Revolution, the estate passed into many hands, including those of Doctor François Terrier. The Jacquet family is the last family to have used the land surrounding this site with respect for the agricultural and land values of the Seynodians.

Chateauvieux
The origin of this castle is unknown. In the XIII th century the family of Geneva owns. A high round tower dominates the whole. You enter the courtyard through a porch surmounted by an escutcheon dated 1593 bearing the Pelard arms.

Branchy tower
It is an octagonal structure built in the late 19 th century on the hill of Branchy by an architect from Annecy to spend his weekend with family.

The old town hall-school
Was built in 1854 on the Butte Saint-Martin to accommodate both children and municipal activities. Having become too small, the building, enlarged under Napoleon III, still bears the escutcheon stamped with the imperial “N” and the date of 1869. But space again ran out with the arrival of free and secularism in the city. ‘education. In 1883, a school for girls was therefore built in Les Neigeos.

The House of Malaz
The castle of Méclaz, it was located on the high plateau above the houses of Méclaz, at the limit of the parish of Quintal. He had his pond, the dykes of which can still be seen on the way to Pennossey. The ruins are barely visible. It was part of the seigneury of Quintal. It was sold in 1824 to a property merchant who divided the land.

The Maison de Malaz dates from the years 1850-1900. The owners of the neighboring farms gave the name of “Château de Malaz” to this bourgeois dwelling called “Villa des Roses”. La Maison de Malaz, acquired by the municipality of Seynod, is intended to welcome groups and also serves as an artist’s residence in conjunction with the Auditorium’s programming. In its park, you can admire a work by Silvio Asséo sculpted in a sequoia.

The Châteauvieux is well preserved with a round tower and a beautiful porte-cochère surmounted by a 1593 escutcheon bearing the arms of Pelard.

Municipal halls in the delegated municipality of Seynod
Several municipal halls can be rented by individuals, associations or other audiences on the territory of the delegated municipality of Seynod. The Cap Periaz space welcomes you for your seminars, trade fairs, shows, congresses, etc. in a fully modular space, from 100 to 850 people (subject to the configuration of your event).

Space 1000: modular in 3 rooms, scenic space (15x7m), sound system, video projector, giant screen, dressing rooms, blackout blinds, dressing rooms, 2 Catering Offices
The gallery: 250 m², bar, cloakroom
The conference room: 200 people, video projector, screen (3x2m), sound system, blackout blinds

Religious heritage

Church of Vieugy
Chapel Vieugy (former Saint-Martin), the rest of the choir end xvi th century or early xvii th century. This neo-Gothic-style building, completed in 1872, is adorned with stained-glass windows created by the master glassmaker Barillet on cardboards by Madeleine Novarina, the architect’s sister, placed around 1956.

We know that it is given with all its tithes 1140 by Arducius Faucigny, at the Abbey of Talloires, which kept the sponsorship until 1753. The fixed Domenget priest originated in the xi th century or xii th century on the foundations of an older building. On April 2, 1706, the presbytery fell prey to the flames and the parish registers were consumed. At the end of the xviii th century, the church was in a sorry state. Despite repairs, the church threatened to fall into ruin, was demolished in 1871. However, the municipal council decided to keep the choir by placing the front door of the old building there. The stones of the old building were used to raise the wall in front of the cross of the current chapel. To replace the old church, a new one was built in 1872 on the CD5 at a place called Contamine, in neo-Gothic style (architect Camille Ruphy). It was consecrated in 1877 by His Excellency Monsignor Magnin, Bishop of Annecy.

Saint-Martin Church
Church of St. Martin, the choir arch basket-handle date of the xvii th century, the windows of the xviii th century. The presbytery close date meanwhile, the xvi th century.

This religious building is very old. The choir is novel, the nave of the 15 th century and the bell tower of the early 19 th century.

Church of Sainte-Geneviève des Bressis
Its construction was entrusted to the architect Paul Jacquet in 1957. It is distinguished by an offset bell tower and a side facade mixing concrete and colored glass, representing the boat of Saint Geneviève on the Seine, the work of the Parisian glass master, Van der Sten, on a Mademoiselle Brix cardboard box.

Church of St. Maurice, the xvi th century, rebuilt in the xvii th and xix th centuries.
Chapelle de Loverchy (former Saint-Etienne church), modest chapel, it is located away from CD 5, serving as a barn, it has been renovated. It was the middle of the xv th century.
Church of Balmont, placed under the patronage of Saint Agathe and Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. The new neo-Gothic style buildingwas built according to the plans of the Annecy architect Camille Ruphy, in 1868. It was consecrated in 1869. It is the subject of a pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Agathe.

Cultural heritage
Since the 1 st December 2006, as part of the redevelopment of the city center, the municipal library of Seynod, second agglomeration of Annecy, became a media library following a major renovation and extension program of the administrative complex opened in 1983, which also houses the town hall and the auditorium.

The ideal path: it is a private park of 5000 m 2 with trees, that the visitor discovers by following a stone paved path and marked out with 33 sculptures loaded with symbols and meaning; an artistic journey, certainly initiatory…

Cultural events and festivities
Every first weekend of September, the Les Amis du Vieux Seynod association organizes the Vieux Seynod festival which aims to remind residents of rural and artisanal traditions.
Every second Saturday in September, the City organizes the Forum of Sports Clubs on the Place de l’Hotel-de-Ville, allowing them to present their activities to the population through stands and full-scale demonstrations.
Every other year, the city organizes the Salon de la Francophonie in the town hall and on its square, where the big international names in French writing come to present their vision of the French language through stands and conferences / debates.
On July 13 and 14 of each year, the Festival Committee organizes “La Seynodienne” in the city center, a large event bringing together a garage sale over 2 linear km and an exhibition of old vehicles. The day before, the association programs the traditional fireworks display.
During October, the Seynod en Fêtes association is organizing its traditional Autumn Festival in the city center.
The TELI Club also organizes a large Travelers Forum every year at the end of November on Seynod, which brings together several thousand travelers from all over Europe.
Young Theater Meetings (10 th biannual meetings in which many high school students from the department participate).

Green spaces
In 2014, the town of Seynod benefited from the “flower town” label with “2 flowers” awarded by the National Council of towns and villages in bloom in France to the competition of towns and villages in bloom.