Vollèges
Origin of the name Vollèges
The name appears in 1178 as « Villezo ». Until the 13th century Vollèges is rather referred to as the lordship of Othier. The hamlet of Etiez appears as early as 1150 as « Octiet ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Vollèges
Nobody knows who founded Vollèges. At the mouth of the Val de Bagnes, the village is linked to the Rhône plain by three passes, the Lein, the Tronc and the Planches. At Le Levron, prehistoric finds, La Tène graves and Roman remains show that the area was inhabited long before. In the 12th century the House of Savoy ceded part of its rights over Vollèges, which belonged to the lordship of Entremont, to the abbey of Saint-Maurice. The former municipality included the main village, the hamlets of Etiez and Cries, and the villages of Le Levron, Chemin-Dessus and Vens. Until the 20th century people lived mainly from farming, vines and the quarrying of « pierre de Vollèges » stone.[1]
History of Vollèges
Prehistory. Prehistoric finds, La Tène graves and Roman remains at Le Levron.[1]
11th-12th century. A Romanesque chapel precedes the present church.[1]
1150. The House of Savoy cedes part of its rights over Vollèges to the abbey of Saint-Maurice. The hamlet of Etiez is mentioned as « Octiet ».[1]
1178. Mentioned as « Villezo »; the parish is recorded.[1]
1333-1335. A « communitas » is documented.[1]
1339. There are 115 taxpayers.[1]
15th century. A Gothic church succeeds the Romanesque chapel.[1]
1456-1506. Construction of the bell tower with its stone spire, attributed to master mason Jean Vaulet-Dunoyer.[1]
1560. First mention of vineyards.[1]
1614. First recorded tithe redemption; the last dues are redeemed in 1809.[1]
1730-1735. Construction of the present church of Saint-Martin.[1]
1798. The territory passes to the district of Entremont.[1]
1958. The Mauvoisin dam ends the chronic lack of water. An agreement with Bagnes is signed in 1960.[1]
1998-2010. Restoration of the church of Saint-Martin.[1]
2021. Vollèges merges with Bagnes to form the municipality of Val de Bagnes.[1]
Population of Vollèges
Sources and references: [1]
| 1339 | 115 taxpayers |
| 1850 | 869 |
| 1900 | 910 |
| 1950 | 993 |
| 2000 | 1'309 |
| 2010 | 1'631 |
| 2020 | 2'083 |
Historic sites in Vollèges
Church of Saint-Martin. Church built in 1730-1735 and restored from 1998 to 2010, succeeding a Romanesque chapel of the 11th-12th centuries and a Gothic church of the 15th century. Its bell tower is the work of Jean Dunoyer.[1]
Le Levron. Village of the former municipality where prehistoric finds, La Tène graves and Roman remains were discovered.[1]
Chemin-Dessus. Village of the former municipality, where an iron mine was reportedly in operation at the beginning of the 20th century.
Remains in Vollèges
Graves and remains of Le Levron. Prehistoric finds, La Tène graves and Roman remains unearthed in the village of Le Levron.[1]
Quarries of « pierre de Vollèges ». Quarrying and cutting of the stone known as « pierre de Vollèges ».[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vollèges » (Jean-Yves Gabbud, version du 21.07.2021)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Vollèges
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