Valère basilica (Basilique de Valère), Sion, Switzerland

Valère basilica. Photo: Chelin/Wikimedia Commons

The Valère basilica (French: Basilique de Valère), also called Valère castle (French: Château de Valère), is a fortified church situated in Sion in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is situated on a hill and faces the Château de Tourbillon, located on the opposite hill.

The Diocese was founded in Octodurum, now called Martigny in the early 4th century. In 589 the bishop, St. Heliodorus, transferred the see to Sion, as Octodurum was frequently endangered by the inundations of the Rhone and the Drance.

Nave of the Basilica of Our Lady of Valère. Photo: Zairon/Wikimedia Commons

The name Valère is first mentioned in 1049 as the site of the cathedral chapter in Sion. The first parts of the church (Notre-Dame de Valère) were built between 1100 and 1130 in the Romanesque style. The next construction phase began after 1130 and included the semi-circular apse, the walls and windows and a roof. The third phase saw the church expand and the style changed to the new Gothic style. Between 1235 and 1267 the nave expanded and was flanked with two aisles.

During the 13th century, the choir was covered with a Gothic ribbed vault and a rood screen was installed to separate the chancel from the nave. The murals date from about 1435 as well. The Gothic marble statue of the Madonna with the baby Jesus was added in the 15th century over the high altar. The current choir stalls were added in the mid-17th century.

Valère organ. Photo: Sthullen/Wikimedia Commons

The organ on the west side of the Valère basilica, believed to have been built in 1435, is one of the oldest functioning in the world. It was probably brought to the church by Guillaume de Rarogne, who eventually ended up as the bishop of Sion. Its pipes are arranged to form a rough outline of a church; the larger pipes form two towers, and the smaller ones create a triangular church roof.

The organ was modified in the 1700s to play Baroque music, but otherwise remains essentially unchanged. It was renovated in 1954.

Source

• www.wikipedia.org

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