Riddes
Origin of the name Riddes
The place is recorded in 1001 as « Ride ». Its former German name is Riden. The name may come from the Latin rigida, « hard, steep », referring to the very steep climb to Isérables, but this is not established.[1]
Founding of Riddes
A large Late La Tène cemetery, used until the Roman period, was discovered at the end of the 19th century. In the Middle Ages Riddes first belonged to the Church of Sion, then, from the 12th century, to the count of Savoy. Thanks to the great bridge over the Rhône, where a toll was levied, it was an important military and commercial crossing point. From the early 13th century Riddes belonged to the castellany of Saillon and formed a mayoralty. The vidomnat was held by the Chevron family, then by the Montheys. Placed under the rule of the seven dizains in 1476, the community bought itself free of the taille and of mortmain in 1742 and became an autonomous municipality in 1798.[1]
History of Riddes
Late La Tène. A large cemetery, used until the Roman period, yields numerous bronze bracelets of the so-called « Valais » type.[1]
1001. Mentioned as « Ride ».[1]
12th century. Riddes passes from the Church of Sion to the count of Savoy.[1]
1153. The parish church of Saint-Laurent is mentioned. It then belongs to the abbey of Ainay.[1]
13th century. From the beginning of the century Riddes belongs to the castellany of Saillon and forms a mayoralty.[1]
1476. The municipality comes under the rule of the seven dizains during the conquest of the Lower Valais.[1]
1580. The church is incorporated into the episcopal mensa of Sion.[1]
1701. A Baroque building replaces the old church of Saint-Laurent.[1]
1742. Riddes buys itself free of the taille and of mortmain.[1]
1798. Riddes becomes an autonomous municipality.[1]
1860. Arrival of the railway, which brings many shops to the village.[1]
1889. Foundation of the Maye wine house, today Les Fils Maye SA.[1]
1892-1922. Ecône houses the canton's first agricultural school.[1]
1895. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Champagnole found a boarding school. They leave the municipality in 2009.[1]
1942. A cable car links Riddes with Isérables.[1]
1950. A ski lift marks the beginnings of the resort of La Tzoumaz.[1]
1970. Foundation in Ecône of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre; date to be confirmed.
1972. Construction of a new church. The Baroque building has since served as a crypt.[1]
2000-2010. The Bieudron power plant is shut down from December 2000 to January 2010 following an accident.[1]
Population of Riddes
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1802 | 195 |
| 1850 | 487 |
| 1900 | 892 |
| 1950 | 1'262 |
| 2000 | 2'197 |
| 2025 | 3'830 |
Historic sites in Riddes
Bridge over the Rhône. Great bridge where a toll was levied, which made Riddes an important military and commercial crossing point. The municipal coat of arms reportedly recalls this old fortified bridge, though this is not established.[1]
Old church of Saint-Laurent. Baroque building of 1701, successor to the church mentioned in 1153, which has served as a crypt since the new church was built in 1972.[1]
Ecône. Locality of the municipality which housed the canton's first agricultural school from 1892 to 1922, and where a power plant operated by the Forces motrices de Mauvoisin stands.[1]
La Tzoumaz. Resort of the Mayens-de-Riddes, born with a ski lift in 1950 and part since 2009 of the tourist destination Verbier/Val de Bagnes-La Tzoumaz-Pays du St-Bernard SA.[1]
La Vidondée. Building whose history reportedly goes back to the second half of the 16th century. Restored in 1995, it became the municipality's cultural centre.
Remains in Riddes
Late La Tène cemetery. Discovered at the end of the 19th century and used until the Roman period. Excavations yielded numerous bronze bracelets of the so-called « Valais » type.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Riddes » (Bernard Monnet), version du 11.05.2012
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Riddes)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Riddes
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