FRDEITEN
Villages / Valais / Martigny district / Château de Saxon

Château de Saxon

Site Canton of Valais · District: Martigny · Uninhabited site (municipality of Saxon)
Part of the municipality of Saxon
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Château de Saxon

The castle bears the name of the village of Saxon, mentioned in 1153 as « de Saxone » (1152 according to another source), a name linked to the Latin saxum, « rock ». It is also called the Savoyard tower of Saxon.[1][4]

Founding of Château de Saxon

The castle stands on a hill above the village of Saxon and the Rhône valley. Peter of Savoy had it rebuilt in 1260, at the same time as those of Martigny and Saillon. The great tower was built at the end of the 13th century under Philip of Savoy, and an account of 1279-1280 describes the building work. Saxon then formed a small castellany attached to the Entremont. Of the castle, only the tower and the chapel remain today.[2][3][4][6][7]

History of Château de Saxon

1153. Saxon appears in the written record for the first time.[1]

1163-1352. The lordship of Saxon is held in fief by the knights of Saxon.[1]

1260. Peter of Savoy has the castle of Saxon rebuilt, like those of Martigny and Saillon. This year is also given for the building of the tower.[2][4]

1279-1280. From 30 November 1279 to 21 September 1280, an account by Pierre d'Yvorne details the work on the tower: foundations, masonry and carpentry.[7]

1475. Saxon becomes a castellany subject to Upper Valais.[1]

1842. An engraving shows the ruins of the tower of the counts of Savoy on the hill above the baths.[3]

Historic sites in Château de Saxon

Walk from the village to the castle. From the church of Saxon, a guided tour « Du village au château » leads to the Romanesque chapel and the 13th-century tower. The round trip on foot, through apricot trees and vineyards, takes about 1 h 45 with a 300 m climb.[5][6]

Remains in Château de Saxon

Round tower. Circular keep whose outer walls are remarkably well preserved. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the top, with a view over the hillsides and the Rhône.[6]

Chapel. Romanesque chapel, the only other building still standing beside the tower.[5][6]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saxon (commune) » (Bernard Truffer, version du 04.04.2013)
  2. Jos. Morand, « Le château de la Bâtiaz », Petites Annales valaisannes, 1931 (via RERO DOC)
  3. « Les eaux et les jeux de Saxon », brochure (auteur et date non indiqués dans la copie numérisée), via RERO DOC
  4. Commune de Saxon, « Histoire »
  5. Commune de Saxon, « Visites du patrimoine »
  6. Fête de l'abricot de Saxon, « La tour de Saxon »
  7. Louis Blondel, « Le château de Saxon : notes complémentaires », Vallesia, 10, 1955
  8. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées de la tour de l'ancien château)

Other villages near Château de Saxon

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change