Le Levron
Origin of the name Le Levron
The inhabitants of Le Levron are called Levronins. No dated early form sheds light on the name, whose origin remains unknown.[2]
Founding of Le Levron
Le Levron is a village of the former municipality of Vollèges, which also included Chemin-Dessus and Vens and merged with Bagnes in 2021 to form the municipality of Val de Bagnes. It lies on a south-facing slope of glacial deposits on the dome of the Mont-Chemin. The place was a crossing: before the tunnel, the Sembrancher-Levron-Saxon route was the shortest way between the Great St Bernard, Ferret and Fenêtre passes and central Valais, and pilgrims still crossed the Col du Lin in the early 20th century. Too low for glaciers, the upper parts of the village lacked water. The Levronins therefore fetched it from the springs of Chardonnay, which belong to the Bagnards.[1][2]
History of Le Levron
Prehistory. The site has been inhabited since the Bronze and Iron Ages.[2]
1465. After experts visit Chardonnay, an agreement with Bagnes recognises enough water for both the Bagnards and the Levronins.[2]
1471. The bisse comes into use and its first statutes are drawn up.[2]
1478. The Bagnards destroy the bisse at Le Pathier, above Verbier, and irrigation stays interrupted for several years.[2]
1484. The bisse is repaired, but the disputes go on.[2]
1492. A ruling by Jodoc de Silinen recognises the right of the joint owners of Le Levron to own and use the bisse in perpetuity.[2]
1545. Revision of the bisse regulations, stressing the solidarity of the joint owners and the responsibility of the rectors.[2]
1548. Ruled against by the castellan of Bagnes, Le Levron sees the bishop quash the judgment. An amicable settlement then confirms its rights to the water of Chardonnay.[2]
1629. After a break in the bisse at Le Clou, the Diet places the costs of the lawsuit on the Bagnards.[2]
1834. The inhabitants decide to restore a long-abandoned section of the bisse, and the Council of State confirms their rights.[2]
1860. The irrigable area grows from 35 to 58 hectares.[2]
1918. On 12 May the engineer Hermann Müller proposes a 1'500-metre tunnel under the Pierre Avoi. Judged too costly, the project is dropped and the bisse is handed over to Vollèges-Cries.[2]
1944. On 1 October, the joint owners refuse by 32 votes to 30 to consider a project for a compensation basin.[2]
1958. At the time of the Mauvoisin dam, A. Maret's solution is adopted: intake at Louvie, tunnels and a pipeline to the Col du Lin.[2]
Population of Le Levron
Sources and references: [3]
| 2023 | 394 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Le Levron
Bisse of Le Levron. Bisse about 20 kilometres long that fetched water from the springs of Chardonnay, below the Mont-Fort hut, by way of the Chaux alpine pasture, Vacheret, Les Planards, La Marlenaz and the Pierre Avoi. Two sworn guards walked it, about 40 kilometres in two days, and one irrigation round lasted twenty days. The joint owners held their assemblies in front of the village chapel.[2]
Remains in Le Levron
Archaeological finds. Prehistoric objects, La Tène graves and Roman-period remains uncovered in the village. Marc Sauter identified finds made near the village spring.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vollèges » (Jean-Yves Gabbud, version du 21.07.2021)
- Ignace Mariétan, « Le bisse du Levron » (résumé de Clément Bérard, « Bataille pour l'eau », 1963), document publié par bisses-valais.ch
- 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 Le Levron
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