Vercorin
Origin of the name Vercorin
The name appears in the mid or first half of the 11th century, as « in monte Vercorens », in a list of the properties of the chapter of Sion. It is found again as « Vercoreins » in 1241 and « Vercorens » in 1307 and 1314. Its meaning remains obscure.[1]
Founding of Vercorin
Vercorin is, with Brie, one of the upland villages of the municipality of Chalais, which also includes Chalais and Réchy in the valley. In the 11th century the chapter of Sion already owned the Gérias alp on the mountain of Vercorin. By the mid-13th century Vercorin was a thriving village, lived in all year round, with a church dedicated to Saint Boniface. Since the late Middle Ages the people of Chalais have driven their cattle up to the Vercorin pastures, which created very close ties between the two communities. Nobody knows who founded it.[1][2]
History of Vercorin
11th century. A list of the properties and revenues of the chapter of Sion mentions the Gérias alp on the mountain of Vercorin.[1]
1241. Sons of the village's well-off families are already entering the clergy.[1]
1251. The brothers Villencus and Jean, of Vercorin, receive in fief from the hospital of Villeneuve the mountain and alp of Aerna, for four Lausanne pounds a year.[1]
1299. On 1 June the community of Vercorin grants in fief to Jean, son of the late André du Marais, a site to build a mill. A deed of 14 July calls the channel that taps the springs near the Evouettes the « vieux bisse ».[1]
1314. On 29 May the lords of Anniviers grant in fief to the community their rights and the village fountain.[1]
1450. On 15 October, after a lawsuit begun in 1448, the bishop awards one third of the water of the Réchy to Chalais, Réchy and Vercorin, and two thirds to Grône and Loye.[1]
1457. On 19 July a deed fixes the boundary between the community and the Tracuit alp, a fief of the episcopal mense.[1]
1480-1484. Construction of the Riccard bisse, shared by Chalais and Vercorin.[1]
1552. A concession formally recognises the rights of the people of Vercorin to the water of the Réchy.[1]
1580. The commoners want a new mill. They lease the renovated mill, with its water rights, to Claude, son of the late André Soudan, for life, for one muid of rye a year.[1]
1850. The great bisse of Vercorin has 17 « têtes ». An 18th is created in 1916.[1]
1902-1903. The Riccard bisse is enlarged, strengthened and extended to the Réchy.[1]
1938. A carriage road links Chalais to Vercorin.[2]
1951. A cable car links Chalais to Vercorin.[2]
Historic sites in Vercorin
Old church of Saint-Boniface. By the mid-13th century the village church was dedicated to Saint Boniface, martyr. The old church, on the Rue de l'Église, is listed as a cultural property of regional importance (B object).[1][3]
The bisses. Besides the great bisse of Vercorin, the village shares with Chalais the Riccard bisse, also called Chararogne. Its extension, the bisse des Ormoz, reaches the Combe des Fleurs.[1]
Remains in Vercorin
Cup-marked stones. Cup-marked stones are found at Vercorin, as at Tracui.[2]
Sources
- Sven Stelling-Michaud, « Vercorin, une commune valaisanne au moyen âge. I. Les bisses de Vercorin, Chalais et Réchy », 1956 (RERO DOC)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chalais (VS) » (Danielle Allet-Zwissig, version de 1998 remaniée le 20.06.2013)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du Valais (objets A et B, état au 1.1.2026)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Vercorin
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