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Villa

Canton of Valais · District: Hérens · 78 inhabitants in 1970, the last published figure for the village. The municipality of Evolène has 1'673 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure).
Part of the municipality of Evolène
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Villa

The name, also written « Villaz », comes from the Latin « villa », which originally meant an estate. The medieval lordship overlooking the right bank is called « Mont-Ville » or « Montville ».[1][2]

Founding of Villa

Villa is a village in the municipality of Evolène, created in 1882 when the municipality of Hérens was divided. With La Sage and La Forclaz it forms the « Sur-les-Rocs » villages, on cliffs about 300 metres above Evolène. In the Middle Ages the Rarogne family held the lordship of Mont-Ville here, overlooking the right bank of the Borgne. When the village came into being is unknown. It should not be confused with other places called Villa in French-speaking Valais, such as the one in Ayent.[1][2][4]

History of Villa

1195. The chapter of Sion splits the territory of Evolène in two. The de la Tour administer the left bank of the Borgne, and the Rarogne de Montville receive the whole right bank as a fief.[8]

13th century. The Rarogne family owns the lordship of Mont-Ville (Villa), overlooking the right bank.[1]

1451. Death of Bishop William III, the last lord of Montville. His property is seized by Bishop Walter Supersaxo (according to another source, the rights of the Rarogne de Montville pass to the chapter of Sion).[1][3][8]

1482. Walter Supersaxo bequeaths the Montville property to the bishopric of Sion.[1]

1621. Villa provides 25 of the 306 soldiers from Evolène called up in Sion.[1]

1829. The census counts 102 inhabitants in Villa, after Les Haudères and Evolène.[1]

1850. The village has only 76 inhabitants left. The same year, a canon of the Great St Bernard comes to serve Villa, La Forclaz and La Sage.[1][4]

1970. Villa has 78 of the municipality's 1'474 inhabitants.[1]

Population of Villa

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Villa
1829102 inhabitants
185076 inhabitants
197078 inhabitants

Historic sites in Villa

Sur-les-Rocs villages. Villa, La Sage and La Forclaz sit on terraces about 300 metres above the valley floor, with restored wooden chalets and barns.[2][5]

Sources

  1. Olivier Clottu, « Les familles d'Evolène », communication présentée à l'assemblée de la Société d'histoire du Valais romand à Evolène le 4.10.1970 (RERO DOC)
  2. Evolène Région, « Villages sur les Rocs »
  3. Office fédéral de la culture, ISOS, « Les Haudères » (2e version, 05.1998), copie publiée par Val d'Hérens Tourisme
  4. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Evolène » (Bernard Monnet, version du 27.03.2006)
  5. Valais/Wallis Promotion, « Chemin des villages d'Evolène »
  6. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  7. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
  8. Office fédéral de la culture, ISOS, « Evolène » (2e version, 11.1996)

Other villages near Villa

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