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Alesse

Canton of Valais · District: Saint-Maurice · No published figure for the locality; the municipality of Dorénaz has 1'120 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
Part of the municipality of Dorénaz
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Alesse

Long written Alesses, the hamlet is mentioned in 1575. Its name has not been explained.[3]

Founding of Alesse

Alesse lies on the slopes of the right bank of the Rhône, above Dorénaz. Its formation is undated. At the end of the 16th century its men act together with those of Arbignon to protect their common land from the Rhône floods. Later Collonges and Dorénaz disputed the hamlet several times, and it finally went to Dorénaz. Until the cable car arrived, the only way up from the plain was on foot or by mule, and Alesse suffered from rural depopulation.[3][1][2][4]

History of Alesse

1575. On 5 April, before the notary Jacques Berodi of Saint-Maurice, the men of Arbignon and Alesse grant an island and other land in perpetuity, by albergement, to private individuals. In return these must maintain the Rhône dykes.[3]

1802-1816. Alesse forms the municipality of Outre-Rhône with Dorénaz and Collonges.[1]

1825. On 23 February the representatives of Collonges, Dorénaz and Alesse decide to replace the boat that crossed the Rhône with a wooden bridge.[3]

1841. After disputes between Collonges and Dorénaz, the hamlet is definitively awarded to Dorénaz.[1][2]

19th century. A funicular between Dorénaz and Alesse makes it easier to ship slate from the Dorénaz quarries.[1]

1956-1958. Built to keep the inhabitants and to bring jobs and tourism, the Dorénaz-Alesse-Champex cable car is inaugurated in 1958.[4]

1988. For its 30th anniversary the cable car is renovated and receives new cabins.[4]

Historic sites in Alesse

Dorénaz-Alesse-Champex cable car. Line built by the Küpfer company, with a station at Alesse. It climbs in seven minutes to over 1'100 m altitude.[4][6]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Dorénaz » (Bernard Monnet, version du 24.01.2006)
  2. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Collonges » (version du 20.01.2004)
  3. « Collonges. Le pont sur le Rhône », texte de 1954 signé par Armand Chambovey, président de la commune de Collonges, via RERO DOC
  4. remontees-mecaniques.net, « Dorénaz »
  5. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  6. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (Dorénaz)

Other villages near Alesse

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