Grandgourt
Title
Grandgourt
Also Known As
Grandgourd, Grandgurt, Grandigurgitis, Grandisgurges, Grantgour
Dates
Founded by 1182; dissolved 1790s
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Grandgourt was established in 1180 by Louis, abbot of Bellelay. It was elevated to an abbey in 1187 before becoming a priory again in 1266. During the late 12th or early 13th century, Grandgourt may briefly have been a Cluniac house.
The monastic complex of Grandgourt was rebuilt 1738-1744. The community was suppressed in 1797, and its church had been demolished by 1860. The site is today in private hands.
The monastic complex of Grandgourt was rebuilt 1738-1744. The community was suppressed in 1797, and its church had been demolished by 1860. The site is today in private hands.
Heads of Community
Priors
Raoul, fl. 1188
Hugues, fl. 1266
Bourcard, fl. 1279
Michel Bronck, fl. 1290?
Richard, fl. 1311
Jean Donzelat, 1357-1358
Pierre Wollemat, fl. 1363
Jacques, fl. ca. 1368
Imier, fl. 1392
Henri, fl. 1424
Gautier Charbon, ca. 1430-1459
Pierre II Péquignat, 1468-1472
Vernier Bonnemain, 1480-1484
Nicolas Schnell, fl. 1489
Pierre Girardin, 1490-ca. 1494
Theobald Küffer, ca. 1500-1516
Richard Vauclair, fl. 1534
Raoul, fl. 1188
Hugues, fl. 1266
Bourcard, fl. 1279
Michel Bronck, fl. 1290?
Richard, fl. 1311
Jean Donzelat, 1357-1358
Pierre Wollemat, fl. 1363
Jacques, fl. ca. 1368
Imier, fl. 1392
Henri, fl. 1424
Gautier Charbon, ca. 1430-1459
Pierre II Péquignat, 1468-1472
Vernier Bonnemain, 1480-1484
Nicolas Schnell, fl. 1489
Pierre Girardin, 1490-ca. 1494
Theobald Küffer, ca. 1500-1516
Richard Vauclair, fl. 1534
Status
Abbey, then priory from 1266
Archival Sources
Bern, Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv
J2.240#2002/139#391#3* (1983; video)
J2.240#2002/139#592#3* (1984; video)
Bern, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek
EAD-165998 (1976; photograph)
Porrentruy, Archives de l'ancien Évêché de Bâle
B 133/19-1 (1560s)
B 133/20 (12th-18th c.)
B 133/23 (15th-17th c.)
B 133/29 (15th-17th c.)
Saint-Maurice, Archives de l'Abbaye de Saint-Maurice
TRO 2/2/0/19 (1187)
J2.240#2002/139#391#3* (1983; video)
J2.240#2002/139#592#3* (1984; video)
Bern, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek
EAD-165998 (1976; photograph)
Porrentruy, Archives de l'ancien Évêché de Bâle
B 133/19-1 (1560s)
B 133/20 (12th-18th c.)
B 133/23 (15th-17th c.)
B 133/29 (15th-17th c.)
Saint-Maurice, Archives de l'Abbaye de Saint-Maurice
TRO 2/2/0/19 (1187)
Reference
Bibliography
“Deux prieurés de Bellelay : Grandgourt et Porte du ciel.” Almanach catholique du Jura, 1958, 73–79. https://doc.rero.ch/record/288431/files/acj_1958.pdf.
Jeanbourquin, Maxime. “Le plus ancien document écrit en français en Suisse est jurassien - Un acte de Grandgourt en 1244.” Le Quotidien Jurassien, December 4, 2002.
Rebetez, Jean-Claude. “Grandgourt.” In Die Prämonstratenser und Prämonstratenserinnen in der Schweiz, edited by Urs Amacher, Bernard Andenmatten, and Brigitte Degler-Spengler, 137–52. Helvetia Sacra 4. Basel: Schwabe, 2002.
Image Credit
The former priory of Grandgourt, 2011. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Grandgourt,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/479.