Val Ferret
Origin of the name Val Ferret
The name appears as early as 1189 with the forest of Ferret, and « val Ferrex » and « col de Ferrex » were still written in 1901. Its origin remains unknown.[1][2]
Founding of Val Ferret
The Val Ferret is one of the two main valleys of the municipality of Orsières, together with the Champex valley. Drained by the Dranse de Ferret, it climbs to the Petit and Grand Col Ferret, passes leading to the Italian Val Ferret and Courmayeur. Its villages and hamlets range from Som-la-Proz to Ferret, by way of Issert, Praz-de-Fort, Les Arlaches, Branche, Prayon and La Fouly. Ferret, the highest hamlet at about 1'700 m, cannot be reached by car in winter. The forest of Ferret, ceded in 1189 to the brothers of Mont-Joux (Great St Bernard), was the subject of disputes between the hospice and the municipality of Orsières until the hospice's rights were bought out in 1894.[1][2][5][6]
History of Val Ferret
1189. Count Thomas I of Savoy cedes the forest of Ferret to the brothers of Mont-Joux (Great St Bernard), for the repose of the soul of his father Humbert.[1][6]
1395. People of Orsières attack the provost of the hospice and burn on the spot the wood ready for transport. On 19 October 1396 a settlement reached in Geneva makes them pay 100 gold florins.[6]
1707. Construction of the Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel at Ferret, with a porch and a Baroque altar.[3][4]
18th century. Processions of pilgrims climb from Orsières to the Ferret chapel.[3]
1802. The painter H. Gay signs the lower altar painting of the Ferret chapel.[3]
1842. Töpffer stops at the chalet of Ferrex, where travellers are taken in.[2]
1853. The right to graze horses in the Ferret woods is bought out for 6'600 francs.[6]
1882. Renovation of the Ferret chapel, completed by an outdoor platform and its wall.[3]
1894. Through a settlement the municipality of Orsières buys out the hospice's remaining rights to the forest of Ferret for 15'000 francs.[6]
1985. The feast of the Ferret chapel, on 5 August, is now celebrated on 15 August.[3]
Historic sites in Val Ferret
Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel at Ferret. Chapel built in 1707 and renovated in 1882. On the altarpiece pediment, a painting of Saint Roch comes from the original altar, and the lower painting of 1802 shows the patroness of Ferret with the Child between Saint Theodule and Saint Bernard of Menthon. A chest-bench received the small sacks of grain offered by pilgrims, auctioned every August for the upkeep of the chapel.[3]
Petit and Grand Col Ferret. Passes leading from the Swiss Val Ferret to the Italian Val Ferret and Courmayeur. The Grand Col Ferret is also called the Col de la Peula.[2]
Forest of Ferret. Forest given in 1189 to the Great St Bernard, at the heart of the disputes between the hospice and Orsières until 1894.[1][6]
Glaciers and peaks. The valley is lined by the A Neuve and Saleina glaciers and by peaks such as Mont Dolent (3'833 m), the meeting point of Italy, France and Switzerland, the Tour Noir and the Aiguille d'Argentière.[2]
Remains in Val Ferret
Former Amône mine. An old iron and silver-bearing lead mine lay near L'Amône. When it was worked is not known.[2]
Legends of Val Ferret
The Ferret chapel and the monsters. According to tradition, the building of the Grand Ferret chapel freed the land of monsters and serpents.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Orsières » (Albano Hugon, version du 03.11.2009)
- H. Correvon, « Le val Ferrex suisse », Die Alpen (annuaire du Club alpin suisse), 1901
- Paroisses de l'Entremont, « Chapelle de Ferret »
- Pays du Saint-Bernard (office du tourisme), « Chapels of Val Ferret »
- Herman Kok, ferret-c.com, « Ferret » (site privé)
- Henri Rausis, « Les bois de Ferret : contestations entre la Maison du Saint-Bernard et la Commune d'Orsières », Annales valaisannes, 1939 (via RERO DOC)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées du hameau de Ferret)
Other villages near Val Ferret
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change