Hôpital de Saint-Jean
Origin of the name Hôpital de Saint-Jean
The name recalls the order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem (Johanniter), which founded the hospital of Salgesch and ran it through a rector until 1655.[1]
Founding of Hôpital de Saint-Jean
The Knights of Saint John built the hospital of Salgesch at the instigation of the lords of Gradetsch. It depended on the commandery of Conflans in Savoy, as did the Simplon hospital. The house at Salgesch in turn had authority over the order's hospice on the Simplon. It has also been described as a commandery, with secondary houses at Brig and on the Simplon pass. The hospital lasted more than four hundred years.[1][2][3][4]
History of Hôpital de Saint-Jean
13th century. From the early part of the century (around 1230 according to another source), Salgesch has a hospital run by a rector of the order of Saint John.[1][2]
1235. First mention of the hospital. The Simplon hospice, built by the order that year, is placed under it.[2]
1517. Date of the building of the order's house, whose tower still stands.[2]
1537. Construction of the Gothic pilgrimage chapel of Salgesch, owned by the order.[1]
1655. End of the administration by a rector of the order. Kaspar Stockalper vom Thurm acquires the possessions of the Knights of Saint John in Valais (around 1653 according to another source), with a papal bull and dispensation.[1][2]
1680. After his fall, Stockalper sells the chapel and all the order's rights in the village to the inhabitants of Salgesch.[1][2]
1685. Salgesch separates from the parish of Leuk. The house of the Knights of Saint John becomes the presbytery.[1][2]
1926. The presbytery is rebuilt. Of the old building, only the tower is kept.[2]
Remains in Hôpital de Saint-Jean
Tower of the order's house. The only remnant of the former hospital of the Knights of Saint John, it stands next to the presbytery of Salgesch.[2]
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Salgesch » (Anton Riva, version du 20.06.2012, version allemande)
- Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), objet VS 14.1 « Brig - Leuk/Susten - Siders, über Varen und Salgesch » (Office fédéral des routes, état 2002)
- Léon Dupont Lachenal, « D'un hospice à une commune » (RERO DOC)
- P. Sulpice d'Ayent, « L'Hôpital de Sion » (RERO DOC)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées du village de Salgesch)
Other villages near Hôpital de Saint-Jean
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