Basse-Nendaz
Origin of the name Basse-Nendaz
Basse-Nendaz is named from 985 in a charter known from a copy. The same deed calls Haute-Nendaz « Nenda superior ». The name of the municipality appears from 984 in the form « Nenda ».[1][2]
Founding of Basse-Nendaz
Basse-Nendaz is the main village of the municipality of Nendaz. The oldest known building of the village is a chapel dedicated to Saint Leodegar (Saint-Léger), which became the parish church of Nendaz. In the Middle Ages the Chapter of Sion held an estate in the area, and a métralie had its seat in the village. After the conquest of 1475 a majorie was created here, whose fortified house survives.[1][2]
History of Basse-Nendaz
Before 305. Date of a coin struck at Carthage, found above the village.[1]
9th-10th century. A chapel dedicated to Saint Leodegar is built. It probably becomes the parish church in the 11th century.[1][3][4]
985. King Conrad of Burgundy grants in fief to Erembert and his son Azo a manse, that is a farmstead, at Basse-Nendaz.[2]
Around 1050. The Chapter of Sion grants in fief an estate in the area of Basse-Nendaz.[2]
1163. Bishop Amédée de la Tour exchanges with Abbot Burchard of Agaune the parish of Saint-Sigismond for that of Saint-Léger de Nendaz and the grain tithe levied, among other places, at Basse-Nendaz.[2]
Around 1300. The church is enlarged with a new choir. It is altered again around the middle of the 15th century.[1]
Early 15th century. The métralie of Basse-Nendaz passes to the Cavelli family.[2]
After 1475. A majorie is created at Basse-Nendaz after the conquest of Lower Valais by the Upper Valais dizains.[2]
1555. In March a deed mentions a gift of three florins and two altar cloths to restore religious buildings, including the Saint-Sébastien chapel.[5]
1668. From this year the Majorie building serves as the major's fortified house.[3]
Around 1700. Population growth calls for a partial rebuilding of the church in the Baroque style.[1]
Before 1794. A bell is hung in the church tower. It is now in the chapel of Saclentse.[6]
1850-1860. The painter Charles Frédéric Brun, known as le Déserteur, restores a painting in the Saint-Sébastien chapel and paints a Baroque Saint Sebastian there.[5]
1882-1885. The church is rebuilt again and takes its present form.[1][4]
1913. The bell tower is rebuilt and raised.[4]
1914. The first road for vehicles reaches Basse-Nendaz.[1]
1964-1967. The church is restored. The works uncover the remains of the original chapel.[1][3]
1970s. The hunters' society of Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Salins renovates the roof and walls of the Saint-Sébastien chapel.[5]
2002. The church is restored once more.[1]
Historic sites in Basse-Nendaz
Church of Saint-Léger. Parish church of Nendaz, whose present appearance dates from the works of the late 19th century.[1][4]
La Majorie. Former fortified house of the major, still standing.[2][3]
Saint-Sébastien chapel. On a rocky ridge above the Rhône valley, at the edge of Basse-Nendaz on the road to Fey. Every 20 January the hunters hold a service here in honour of Saint Sebastian.[5]
Remains in Basse-Nendaz
Crypt of the original chapel. The remains of the 9th to 10th century chapel, buried for centuries under rubble, now form a crypt in the basement of the church.[3][4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Nendaz » (Pierre Carruzzo), version du 02.11.2010
- Lucien Lathion, « Nendaz au moyen âge », communication à l'assemblée de la Société d'histoire du Valais romand, Nendaz, 24 mai 1931, via RERO DOC
- Nendaz Tourisme, « Basse-Nendaz »
- Nendaz Tourisme, « The church of Basse-Nendaz »
- Nendaz Tourisme, « St-Sébastien Chapel »
- Nendaz Tourisme, « The Saclentse Chapel »
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (Nendaz)
Other villages near Basse-Nendaz
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