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La Rasse

Canton of Valais · District: Saint-Maurice · No published figure for the locality; the municipality of Evionnaz has 1'534 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
Part of the municipality of Evionnaz
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name La Rasse

The name La Rasse remains unexplained. In 1636, during a procession against the floods, it was agreed to give the name of Saint Bartholomew « au torrent et au hameau de la Rasse ». The torrent has been called Saint-Barthélemy ever since, but the hamlet kept its own name.[2]

Founding of La Rasse

La Rasse grew up beside the torrent that comes down from the Jorat gorge, formerly called the Marre and today the Saint-Barthélemy. Its origin is undated. Around 1700 the hamlet belonged to the large municipality of Saint-Maurice, together with Evionnaz, La Balmaz, Mex and Vérossaz. Today it is part of the municipality of Evionnaz. Before the parishes were separated, its chapel served the inhabitants as a place of worship.[4][1][2]

History of La Rasse

1636. On 12 May the Marre torrent threatens La Rasse. At the inhabitants' request, Abbot Georges Quartéry sets out from Saint-Maurice in procession with his canons and the Capuchins. It is then agreed to give the torrent and the hamlet the name of Saint Bartholomew.[2]

1636. After the torrent's overflows, a chapel dedicated to Saint Bartholomew replaces the original oratory.[2][4][1]

around 1700. La Rasse is part of the large municipality of Saint-Maurice, together with Evionnaz, La Balmaz, Mex and Vérossaz.[4]

1835. On 26 August a noise like rolling thunder frightens the inhabitants. The debris flow leaves its bed for only a moment at La Rasse, but it carries away the cross standing above the village.[3][2]

1926. On 20 September at about 6 a.m., dull rumbling from the Jorat gorge alarms the inhabitants of La Rasse and Epinassey. The torrent overflows, sweeps away a wooden bridge and makes the railway give way, while the hamlet suffers little.[2][1]

Historic sites in La Rasse

Saint-Barthélemy chapel. 17th-century chapel, built in 1636 after the overflows of the Marre torrent and dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. It replaced an older oratory.[1][4][2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Evionnaz » (Bernard Monnet, version du 17.11.2004)
  2. Jean-Émile Tamini, « Le St-Barthélemy, le torrent de la Marre, le Tauredunum », Echos de Saint-Maurice, t. 25, 1926, p. 129-134
  3. François-Marie Boccard, « Les catastrophes du Bois-Noir », Echos de Saint-Maurice, t. 25, 1927, p. 173-175
  4. Commune d'Evionnaz, « Histoire »
  5. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  6. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (La Rasse)

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