Salvan
Origin of the name Salvan
The place appears after 1018 as « cum Silvano », then between 1025 and 1031 as « in monte Salvano ». The old German name is « Scharwang ». The name reportedly comes from Latin « silva », forest, through a form « Silvanum » that could also derive from a personal name. The question is not settled. In patois the municipality is reportedly called « Servan ».
Founding of Salvan
Engraved Neolithic stelae are recorded in the Trient valley. In the 11th century the abbey of Saint-Maurice held rights over Salvan and Ottanel, present-day Vernayaz, probably from a donation by King Rudolph III of Burgundy. With Ottanel and Gueuroz, Salvan formed a quarter of the castellany of Salvan, in the bailiwick of Saint-Maurice. The village first depended on the parish of Ottanel, which covered the whole valley, until the parish church was moved here. People lived mainly from livestock farming, supplemented by slate quarries, forestry, timber floating, smuggling, notably of salt, weaving and trade. The municipality includes several hamlets, Les Marécottes among them. Vernayaz, Miéville and Gueuroz belonged to it until 1912. Who founded Salvan is not known.[1]
History of Salvan
11th century. The abbey of Saint-Maurice holds rights over Salvan and Ottanel, probably from a donation by King Rudolph III of Burgundy.[1]
after 1018. The locality is mentioned in the form « cum Silvano ».[1]
1025-1031. Mention in the form « in monte Salvano ».[1]
1265. The valley's parish church is moved from Ottanel to Salvan. The Ottanel church becomes a chapel of ease.[1]
1323. The people of Salvan and Finhaut defeat Guillaume de Thoire at Emosson and secure possession of the alpine pastures.[2]
1590. The dedication to Saint Maurice is attested for the parish church.[1]
1649. Finhaut separates from the municipality and parish of Salvan.[1][2]
1798. End of the castellany of Salvan, of which Salvan, Ottanel and Gueuroz formed a quarter.[1]
1855-1867. Construction of the Vernayaz-Chamonix carriage road, with a stagecoach service. Salvan becomes a health resort.[1]
1895. Guglielmo Marconi carries out his first wireless telegraphy trials in Salvan.[1][3]
1906. Opening of the Martigny-Chamonix railway, which strengthens tourist growth.[1]
1912. Vernayaz, Miéville and Gueuroz separate from Salvan to form the municipality of Vernayaz.[1]
1920. Vernayaz separates from the parish of Salvan.[1]
1925. Construction of a dam by Alexandre Sarrasin.[1]
1996. Opening of a museum devoted to Marconi.[1]
2004. Creation of the Fondation Marconi.[1]
Population of Salvan
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1850 | 1'520 (including Vernayaz, part of Salvan until 1912) |
| 1900 | 1'916 (including Vernayaz, part of Salvan until 1912) |
| 1950 | 1'102 |
| 2000 | 1'020 |
| 2025 | 1'519 |
Historic sites in Salvan
Saint-Maurice church. Seat of the valley parish since its transfer from Ottanel in 1265. The dedication to Saint Maurice is attested in 1590.[1]
Pierre Bergère and Marconi memories. In 1895 Guglielmo Marconi carried out his first wireless telegraphy trials in Salvan. His transmitter stood on the Pierre Bergère, a boulder overlooking the village, and the receiver was gradually moved up to about 1.5 km away, towards Les Marécottes. A museum has been devoted to him since 1996 and a foundation has borne his name since 2004.[1][3]
Les Marécottes. Hamlet of the municipality developed for tourism, with a zoo, a swimming pool cut into the rock and a ski area.
Gorges du Dailley. Trail through the gorge starting from Salvan, with walkways, galleries and stairways. It was completely renovated in 1995.[4]
Remains in Salvan
Engraved Neolithic stelae. Engraved stelae dating from the Neolithic are recorded on the territory of Salvan.[1]
Legends of Salvan
The people of Salvan in Salvagny. According to a tradition, the inhabitants of the hamlet of Salvagny, in the Sixt valley in Haute-Savoie, came from Salvan in the 18th century after disputes with their authorities. Nothing confirms it.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Salvan (commune) » (Gaëlle Bourguinet Eggs, version du 07.06.2013)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Finhaut » (André Décaillet, version du 20.04.2006)
- Vallée du Trient, « Marconi ouvre la voie de la transmission sans fil »
- Suisse Tourisme (MySwitzerland), « Gorges du Dailley »
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Salvan
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