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Loye

Canton of Valais · District: Sierre · No published figure for the locality; the municipality of Grône has 2'597 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
Part of the municipality of Grône
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Loye

Loye appears as a community in 1292. In the Latin records of the 1448-1449 lawsuit over the water of the Réchy it is written « Loy », and its inhabitants are called « Loyards ». The meaning of the name remains obscure.[1][3]

Founding of Loye

Loye is one of the ten or so hamlets of the municipality of Grône. By the late 13th century it already formed a community on the same footing as Grône, in the old territory of the lordship of Granges. Loye was also, with Hérens and Grône, among the localities attacked by Jean de Cervent, coming from Conthey. How and when the hamlet took shape is not known. Like the other mountain hamlets of Grône, it was of very great importance, because the plain was exposed to frequent flooding by the Rhône. Together with the people of Grône, its inhabitants watered their land through three, later four bisses drawn from the Réchy above the Pichiour.[1][2][3]

History of Loye

1292. Loye is named as a community, on the same footing as Grône.[1]

1417. On 27 November the captains of the dizains appoint a lieutenant or castellan for Loye and Grône.[2]

1448. Faced with a complaint by Chalais and Réchy against Grône and Loye, the bishop summons the parties to the château de la Majorie on 9 August. His ruling says that the people of Grône and Loye must not enjoy more water than those of Chalais and Réchy.[3]

1449. On 28 July the procurators of Grône and Loye are heard in the inquiry. Its conclusions come on 1 November.[3]

1450. On 15 October the bishop settles the dispute over the water of the Réchy stream: Loye and Grône receive two thirds, Chalais, Réchy and Vercorin one third.[3]

1861. Date of the village's water-powered sawmill.[4]

1990s. Renovation of the sawmill.[4]

Historic sites in Loye

Loye water-powered sawmill. In the village centre, listed as a cultural property of regional importance (B object). It still works, and a sawyer gives demonstrations from May to October.[4][5]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grône » (Bernard Monnet, version du 06.03.2008)
  2. Louis Blondel, « Les châteaux et le bourg de Granges », 1954 (RERO DOC)
  3. Sven Stelling-Michaud, « Vercorin, une commune valaisanne au moyen âge. I. Les bisses de Vercorin, Chalais et Réchy », 1956 (RERO DOC)
  4. Commune de Grône et Grône-Loye Tourisme, « Brochure d'informations » (scierie hydraulique de Loye)
  5. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du Valais (objets A et B, état au 1.1.2026)
  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)

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