- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 10th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Valais, Switzerland
- Style
- Romanesque architecture
- Coordinates
- 46.2339°, 7.3644°
History
From the Middle Ages the Valère hill was the seat of the cathedral chapter of Sion, which surrounded it with walls. The Church of Our Lady was built in stages from the early 12th century: the first Romanesque parts went up in 1100–1130, and in 1235–1267 the nave was enlarged and flanked with aisles, blending Romanesque and early Gothic forms. Walls with towers and battlements turned the complex into a true fortress guarding the Rhône valley. Around 1430–1435 the organ was installed and the murals painted, followed by carved choir stalls in the mid-17th century. In time the canons moved down into the town, and in 1883 the former chapter buildings became the Valais history museum.
What to see
A steep path climbs from the old town to the hilltop, which faces the ruins of Tourbillon Castle on the neighbouring summit. In the basilica, look for the Romanesque capitals, frescoes, carved stalls and the organ hanging on the west wall like a swallow's nest. The former canons' houses hold the Valais history museum, with collections from prehistoric times onwards.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q688261
Popularity: articles about this site in 21 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).