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Mollens

Canton of Valais · District: Sierre · 770 inhabitants (2000, former municipality of Mollens, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Crans-Montana
View of Mollens
Photo: Jérémy Toma, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: Public domain
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Mollens

The forms « Molaen » (around 1250) and « Moleing » (1286) are found. The former German name is « Molei ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]

Founding of Mollens

Mollens stretched along the right bank of the Rhône between 900 and 3'177 m, its highest point being the Schneehorn, and included the clustered village of Cordona, the scattered settlements of Conzor, Laques and Saint-Maurice-de-Laques, and the high-altitude resort of Aminona. A Roman cemetery near Conzor and a fortified cave dated to 1179-1180, the « grotte aux fées », point to early occupation. Mollens belonged to the episcopal lordship of Sierre. A community existed from the 15th century and merged with Cordona in 1683. The village was part of the upper third of the Contrée de Sierre until 1839, the year the municipality was created. It depends on the parish of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques, attested in 1238. At Aminona only three of the 23 planned residential towers were built, in 1972-1973. Mollens is now in the municipality of Crans-Montana (merger of 1 January 2017).[1][3]

History of Mollens

Roman period. A Roman cemetery exists near Conzor.[1]

1179-1180. Dating of the fortified cave known as the « grotte aux fées ».[1]

1238. The parish of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques is attested.[1]

1242. Date of the first church of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques.[1]

around 1250. Mentioned as « Molaen ».[1]

1286. Mentioned as « Moleing ».[1]

1444. The village of Mollens has a chapel.[1]

15th century. A community of Mollens is attested within the episcopal lordship of Sierre.[1]

1531. Second church of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques, attributed to Ulrich Ruffiner, though this is not certain.[1]

1656. Construction of the municipal house.[1]

1682. Construction of the chapel of Saint-Charlemagne.[1]

1683. Mollens merges with Cordona.[1]

1759. Rebuilding of the chapel of Saint-Gothard at Cordona.[1]

1839. Mollens leaves the upper third of the Contrée de Sierre and becomes a municipality.[1]

1894. Construction of the present church of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques.[1]

1927. Restoration of the chapel of Saint-Charlemagne.[1]

1928-1929. Alexandre Cingria designs the stained-glass windows of the church of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques.[2]

1972-1973. Construction at Aminona of three of the 23 planned residential towers.[1]

1997. Crans-sur-Sierre, Montana-Vermala and Aminona are promoted jointly by Crans-Montana Tourisme.[1]

2017. On 1 January Mollens merges with Chermignon, Montana and Randogne to form the municipality of Crans-Montana.[1][3]

Population of Mollens

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Mollens
1798185 inhabitants
1850217 inhabitants
1900284 inhabitants
1950303 inhabitants
1980334 inhabitants
2000770 inhabitants

Historic sites in Mollens

Church of Saint-Maurice-de-Laques. Church of the parish attested in 1238, south of Mollens. After a first church of 1242 and a second of 1531, the present building dates from 1894. It is said to keep a late Gothic choir and bell tower, completed in 1893-1894 by a nave by the architect Joseph de Kalbermatten. It houses stained-glass windows designed in 1928-1929 by Alexandre Cingria. The church is listed as a monument of cantonal importance.[1][2]

Chapels of Mollens and Cordona. The village of Mollens has had a chapel since 1444. The chapel of Saint-Charlemagne dates from 1682 and was restored in 1927. At Cordona the chapel of Saint-Gothard was rebuilt in 1759.[1]

Municipal house. Municipal house dating from 1656.[1]

Aminona. High-altitude resort of the former municipality, where a project of 23 residential towers resulted in only three towers built in 1972-1973.[1]

Remains in Mollens

Grotte aux fées. Fortified cave dated to 1179-1180.[1]

Roman cemetery of Conzor. Roman-period cemetery near Conzor.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mollens (VS) » (Hugues Rey, version du 12.01.2017)
  2. Etat du Valais, Journées européennes du patrimoine, fiche « Crans-Montana (Mollens), la lumière transcendée » (église de Saint-Maurice-de-Laques, vitraux d'Alexandre Cingria)
  3. Etat du Valais, Service de l'agriculture, Office de viticulture, « Secteurs d'encépagement de la commune de Crans-Montana » (16.05.2018) (fusion au 1er janvier 2017)
  4. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

Other villages near Mollens

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