Fionnay
Origin of the name Fionnay
The name Fionnay has never been explained, and no dated early form of it is known.
Founding of Fionnay
Fionnay is a village of the former municipality of Bagnes, part of the municipality of Val de Bagnes since 2021. It was originally just a simple mayen, inhabited for a few weeks a year by farmers from Lourtier and Champsec. In 1890 the opening of two guesthouse hotels made it the first summer tourist resort of the Val de Bagnes. In the 1950s and 1960s the hotels were sold to hydroelectric companies and most were demolished.[1][2]
History of Fionnay
1890. Two guesthouse hotels with about twenty beds open in summer, the Rosablanche (later Hôtel du Grand Combin) and Fionnen (later Hôtel Carron), with basic comfort: wood heating, fountain water. Fionnay becomes the first summer tourist resort of the Val de Bagnes.[1][2]
1893. Construction of the Pension Chanrion.[1]
around 1897. Four years after the Pension Chanrion, the Hôtel-Pension des Alpes opens in its turn.[1]
1898. Benjamin Carron enlarges the Hôtel Carron, doubles the number of rooms and installs the telegraph.[1]
1905-1906. The Hôtel du Grand Combin, owned by Maurice Guigoz (1868-1919), is raised by two storeys and can accommodate up to 180 people.[1]
1907-1909. The Hôtel des Alpes is rebuilt to plans by the architect Louis Gard and has more than 75 rooms. The telephone is introduced there in 1912.[1]
before 1914. Before the First World War, Fionnay can accommodate more than 300 people and becomes the main holiday resort of the Val de Bagnes.[1]
1926-1929. Construction of the Lourtier-Fionnay road. The first postal coach services begin the following summer.[1]
1930. The Great Depression deals a heavy blow to the hotel trade.[1]
1950-1960. The hotels are sold to hydroelectric companies and, for the most part, demolished.[1]
2023. The village has 31 inhabitants on 1 January.[4]
Population of Fionnay
Sources and references: [4]
| 2023 | 31 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Fionnay
Belle Époque hotels. The Rosablanche, later the Hôtel du Grand Combin, the Hôtel Carron, the Pension Chanrion and the Hôtel des Alpes made Fionnay, between 1890 and 1914, the main holiday resort of the Val de Bagnes. Most were demolished after being sold to hydroelectric companies in the 1950s and 1960s.[1]
Power station and compensation basin. The Fionnay power station, at 1'490 metres, turbines the water of the Grande Dixence dam. A compensation basin collects this water. Upstream, the Dranse de Bagnes is held back by the Mauvoisin dam.[3]
Sources
- Commune de Val de Bagnes, Archives communales, « L'éveil touristique de la station de Fionnay »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bagnes, Val de » (Jean-Yves Gabbud, version du 31.03.2011, version allemande lue)
- Michael Müller, « Bassin de compensation de Fionnay, étude numérique de fonctionnement en situation de crue », fiche technique pour HYDRO Exploitation SA, 2010
- Commune de Val de Bagnes, Office de la population (Stéphane Michellod), « Statistique des habitants » au 1er janvier 2023
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Fionnay
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