Arbignon
Origin of the name Arbignon
The place appears in the 11th-12th centuries as « desertum Alpinonis », in an interpolated bull. The name remains unexplained. It passed to a noble family, the d'Arbignon, known from 1239.[1][2][4]
Founding of Arbignon
Arbignon lay on the right bank of the Rhône, on the narrow strip of land squeezed between the rocky slopes and the river, from the ridges of Dorénaz to the Avançon de Morcles. The site was already inhabited in Roman times, but when the village itself arose is not known. In the Middle Ages the d'Arbignon, ministerials of the abbey of Saint-Maurice, held the office of mayor (métralie) there. The village was probably abandoned because of the overflows of the Aboyeu stream, and Collonges, cited in 1239 as « Colunges », replaced it. Its territory today forms the municipalities of Collonges and Dorénaz.[1][2][4]
History of Arbignon
1st-3rd century. People already live on the site in Roman times.[1]
11th-12th century. An interpolated bull names the territory « desertum Alpinonis ».[1][2]
13th-17th century. The d'Arbignon family is the main lord of the locality. Its fiefs neighbour those of the Vychardi family and of the Saint-Jacques hospice in Saint-Maurice.[1][2]
1239. Pierre d'Arbignon, squire, takes part in the crusade. He is the earliest known member of the family.[4]
1575. On 5 April the men of Arbignon and Alesse grant an island and other land in perpetuity to private individuals, who in return must maintain the Rhône dykes.[2]
1825. Through an agreement of 18 October, the municipalities give the contractor of the first wooden bridge over the Rhône the larches of the Ban d'Arbignon.[2]
Historic sites in Arbignon
Ban d'Arbignon. Place name near Collonges that preserves the name of the old village. Its larches were used to build the first wooden bridge over the Rhône.[2][3]
Aboyeu torrent. Stream whose overflows reportedly led to the abandonment of Arbignon. The municipality of Collonges is a shareholder of Forces motrices SA de l'Aboyeu.[1][3]
Au d'Arbignon alpine pasture. On the heights above Collonges, this pasture keeps the name of Arbignon and overlooks the valley.[5]
Remains in Arbignon
Roman settlement remains. Remains of settlement from the 1st-3rd centuries AD have been found on the site of Arbignon.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Collonges » (version du 20.01.2004)
- « Collonges. Le pont sur le Rhône », texte de 1954 signé par Armand Chambovey, président de la commune de Collonges, via RERO DOC
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (Arbignon)
- Louis Blondel, « Le château d'Arbignon à Collombey », Vallesia, 14, 1959 (via RERO DOC)
- Valais/Wallis Promotion, « Collonges »
Other villages near Arbignon
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