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La Forclaz

Canton of Valais · District: Hérens · 139 inhabitants in 1970, the last published figure for the village. The municipality of Evolène has 1'673 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure).
Part of the municipality of Evolène
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name La Forclaz

The name originally means « the fork ». No dated early form is known.[2]

Founding of La Forclaz

La Forclaz is a village in the municipality of Evolène, created in 1882 when the municipality of Hérens was divided. With La Sage and Villa it forms the « Sur-les-Rocs » villages, on cliffs about 300 metres above Evolène. When it came into being is unknown. It should not be confused with La Forclaz in the municipality of Trient, near the pass of the same name, or with La Forclaz (VD) in the municipality of Ormont-Dessous.[2][4][7]

History of La Forclaz

1621. Of the 306 soldiers from Evolène called up in Sion, La Forclaz provides 47, Evolène 46 and Les Haudères 39.[1]

1829. The census counts 60 inhabitants.[1]

1850. While Les Haudères, Villa and Lanna lose inhabitants, La Forclaz rises to 95. The same year, a canon of the Great St Bernard comes to serve Villa, La Forclaz and La Sage.[1][4]

1965. On 16 December the Tsaté ski tow opens, 1'449 metres long with a 508-metre vertical drop. Its lower station is at La Combe, between La Sage and La Forclaz.[5]

1970. With 139 inhabitants, La Forclaz is the third-largest place in the municipality, after Evolène (672) and Les Haudères (427).[1]

1973. A removable Duport ski tow is installed in the village. It will later be named La Forclaz III.[8]

1976. After the Tsaté operator gave up in 1974, Blanchalpe SA buys the lift and has it renovated by Von Roll.[5]

1981. The La Terraz ski tow, a Städeli built in 1961 at Hasliberg and bought second-hand by Blanchalpe, goes into service at La Forclaz. It stops in 2019, to avoid renovation costs.[8]

2000. The Tsaté ski tow gets a new lower station, supplied by Leitner.[5]

Population of La Forclaz

Sources and references: [1]

Population of La Forclaz
182960 inhabitants
185095 inhabitants
1970139 inhabitants

Historic sites in La Forclaz

Sur-les-Rocs villages. La Forclaz, La Sage and Villa sit on terraces about 300 metres above the valley floor, with restored wooden chalets and barns.[2][3]

Sources

  1. Olivier Clottu, « Les familles d'Evolène », communication présentée à l'assemblée de la Société d'histoire du Valais romand à Evolène le 4.10.1970 (RERO DOC)
  2. Evolène Région, « Villages sur les Rocs »
  3. Valais/Wallis Promotion, « Chemin des villages d'Evolène »
  4. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Evolène » (Bernard Monnet, version du 27.03.2006)
  5. remontees-mecaniques.net, « TKE2 du Tsaté (Bühler) », fiche technique de l'installation
  6. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  7. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
  8. remontees-mecaniques.net, « Station La Forclaz », historique des installations

Other villages near La Forclaz

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