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Bramois

Canton of Valais · District: Sion · 681 inhabitants (1920, former municipality of Bramois, last known figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Sion
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Bramois

The place appears in 515 in the Latin form « Bramosium ». The meaning of the name remains obscure.[1]

Founding of Bramois

Bramois grew up on the left bank of the Rhône, beside the Borgne, on ground settled since prehistory: remains from the Late Neolithic and the La Tène period have been found there. The village enters written history as an estate (villa) that the Burgundian king Sigismund gives to the abbey of Saint-Maurice. Jurisdiction later passes to the chapter of Sion, which entrusts its administration to the vidame of Sion. In the 19th century the settlement still consists of two separate parts. An independent municipality from 1798, Bramois now lies in the municipality of Sion (merger of 1968).[1][2]

History of Bramois

Late Neolithic. A settlement exists at Bramois at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC.[2]

515. The Burgundian king Sigismund gives the estate of « Bramosium » to the abbey of Saint-Maurice.[1]

1278. The parish is recorded. Its old church stood on the central square.[1]

14th century. The administration of Bramois passes to the de Chevron family.[1]

1550. A single-arch stone bridge crosses the Borgne.[1]

1569. Nicolas de Chevron sells his rights over Bramois to the burghers of Sion for 250 thalers. A castellan appointed by Sion then governs the village until 1798.[1]

around 1650. The chapel of Sainte-Catherine is built at the head of the bridge.[1]

1796. The presbytery is built.[1]

1798. After the French invasion, Bramois becomes an independent municipality. It then has 319 inhabitants.[1]

1858-1862. A new parish church dedicated to Saint Lawrence is built.[1]

second half of the 19th century. A weaving workshop and later an acetylene factory open along the Borgne. A brewery is built in the same period.[1]

1914-1915. A hydroelectric plant is built at the entrance to the Borgne gorge. It marks the start of the village's industrial decline.[1]

1968. Bramois is joined to the municipality of Sion.[1][2]

1970s. Building on the meadows and orchards speeds up. The old church on the central square is demolished.[1]

Population of Bramois

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Bramois
1798319
1850381
1870561
around 1900703
1920681

Historic sites in Bramois

Church of Saint-Laurent. The present parish church was built from 1858 to 1862. It replaced the old church on the central square, demolished in the 1970s.[1]

Bridge over the Borgne and chapel of Sainte-Catherine. The single-arch stone bridge dates from 1550. The chapel of Sainte-Catherine, built around 1650, stands at its head.[1]

Presbytery. The priest's house was built in 1796.[1]

Sources

  1. Office fédéral de la culture, ISOS (Inventaire fédéral des sites construits à protéger en Suisse), « Bramois », n° 4834
  2. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Sion (commune) » (François Wiblé, Bernard Truffer, Lucienne Hubler, version du 16.11.2017)
  3. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

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