Veysonnaz
Origin of the name Veysonnaz
The village is mentioned around 1200 in the form « Veisona ». The name reportedly designates a watercourse, formed on an Indo-European hydronymic base « ueis- » or « uis- » and a Celtic suffix « -ŏna ».[1]
Founding of Veysonnaz
Veysonnaz, on the left bank of the Rhône, is with its 111 hectares the smallest municipality in the canton. It comprises the village and the resort, between 1230 and 1300 m, as well as the hamlet of Beaupérier. In 1264 the village was under the lordship of the bishop of Sion and administered by a métral. From the end of the 15th century it belonged to the dizain of Sion. Attached in 1798 to the dizain of Hérémence, it returned to the dizain of Sion in 1802 and belonged to the district of Sion from 1848. Long tied to Nendaz in religious matters, Veysonnaz formed a parish with Clèbes and Verrey in 1912. The road to the plain (1930-1934) ended its isolation and subsistence economy, and since 1961 ski lifts and international ski competitions have made tourism the main employer.[1]
History of Veysonnaz
around 1200. Mentioned in the form « Veisona ».[1]
1264. The village is under the lordship of the bishop of Sion and administered by a métral.[1]
1425. Construction of a chapel on the site of the present church.[2]
end of the 15th century. Veysonnaz belongs to the dizain of Sion.[1]
1721. The chapel is rebuilt.[2]
1798. Attached to the dizain of Hérémence.[1]
1802. Returns to the dizain of Sion.[1]
1848. Veysonnaz belongs to the district of Sion.[1]
1905. Construction of the present neo-Gothic church.[2]
1912. Veysonnaz separates from the parish of Nendaz and forms a parish with Clèbes and Verrey.[1]
1930-1934. Construction of a road to the plain, ending isolation and the subsistence economy.[1]
1961. Ski lifts begin operating; with international ski competitions, tourism becomes the main employer.[1]
1962-1968. Renovation of the church.[2]
2020. A merger project with Sion was reportedly accepted in Veysonnaz and rejected by the voters of Sion; this is not confirmed.
Population of Veysonnaz
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1850 | 201 |
| 1900 | 233 |
| 1950 | 371 |
| 2000 | 467 |
| 2025 | 614 |
Historic sites in Veysonnaz
Church of Veysonnaz. Neo-Gothic church built in 1905 and renovated from 1962 to 1968, on the site of a chapel of 1425 rebuilt in 1721.[2]
Veysonnaz resort. Resort developed since 1961, part of the « Quatre Vallées » ski area with Nendaz, Thyon, La Tzoumaz and Verbier. The Piste de l'Ours hosts FIS World Cup races in ski cross and para alpine skiing.[1][3][4]
Beaupérier. Hamlet of the municipality.[1]
Bisses of Vex and Salins. These are reportedly the main bisses followed by the municipality's hiking trails.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Veysonnaz » (Catherine Raemy-Berthod, version du 04.03.2013 ; version italienne lue, la version française étant bloquée)
- Veysonnaz Tourisme, « The church of Veysonnaz »
- Veysonnaz Tourisme, « Ski Cross World Cup » (piste de l'Ours)
- Veysonnaz Tourisme, « FIS Paralympic World Cup in Veysonnaz » (piste de l'Ours, décembre 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 Veysonnaz
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