Clèbes
Origin of the name Clèbes
Once written « Cleiby », « Cloiby » or « Clouby », and « Glèbes » in the 1434 deed, the name of Clèbes has an obscure origin.[2]
Founding of Clèbes
Clèbes is a village of the municipality of Nendaz, at 1'275 m on the right bank of the Printse, on the border with Veysonnaz. Bracelets of the La Tène period have been found here. In the Middle Ages the nobles of Ayent and those of Saxon held rights here, and then the abbey of Saint-Maurice became its lord. The land of Clèbes was a free allod. The abbey held a general court (plaid) here twice a year, in May and October, chaired by the abbot's vidomne, where administration, forests, bisses and pastures were discussed. During these two months the major could not exercise his rights here. The people of Clèbes paid the abbot 15 sols at the May court and 5 sols at the October one, and a métral collected the taille for the abbey's receiver. For these subjects the abbots, who sometimes styled themselves « vidomne de Clèbes », had a small fortified house at Vétroz.[1][2][3]
History of Clèbes
La Tène period. Bracelets of this period have been found at Clèbes.[1]
1163. Bishop Amédée de la Tour receives from Abbot Burchard of Agaune the parish of Saint-Léger de Nendaz and the grain tithe levied, among other places, at Clèbes.[2]
1289. The abbey of Saint-Maurice acquires the fief of Clèbes from François de Saxon and his sister Béatrice for 15 Saint-Maurice pounds and 10 sols. The same year a Nentherme d'Ayent cedes or gives it his rights.[2]
1379. A lawsuit between the abbot of Saint-Maurice and the castellan of Conthey over the vidomnat of Clèbes is decided in the abbot's favour.[2]
1434. On 31 May, at Conthey, Aymon de Corbières grants Perronet Cavelli the office of the majories of Brignon, Clèbes and Heys.[2]
1707. The village gains a chapel, dedicated to Notre-Dame de la Visitation.[6]
1904. On the afternoon of 8 August a fire destroys a large part of the houses, then mostly wooden and tightly packed. The chapel burns too. The village is rebuilt solely in stone and the chapel is rebuilt.[3][6]
1912. With Veysonnaz and Verrey, Clèbes leaves the parish of Nendaz to form a new parish, whose church, at Veysonnaz, dates from 1905. Clèbes and Verrey remain in the municipality of Nendaz, and the villagers secure three masses a week in their chapel.[6]
Historic sites in Clèbes
Village centre. Its stone houses date from the early 20th century, after the fire.[3]
Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Visitation. The village chapel, rebuilt after the fire. Until the church of Veysonnaz was built, mass was said here regularly, sparing the villagers the walk down to Basse-Nendaz.[6]
Barns. The village keeps small traditional barns, once used to store hay, straw and cereals.[3][7]
Stations of the Cross and moraine path. Stations of the Cross lead from the top of the village towards the bisse de Vex. At the other end, a path laid on a glacial moraine leads to the bisse de Salins.[3][7]
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, « Clèbes »
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (Nendaz)
- Veysonnaz Tourisme, « Clèbes Chapel »
- Nendaz Tourisme, « Hike Bisse de Salins - Bisse de Vex »
Other villages near Clèbes
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change