Bagnes
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Cotterg, a village of Bagnes.
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 Bagnes
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Location of Bagnes
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| Coordinates: 46°5′N 7°13′E / 46.083°N 7.217°ECoordinates: 46°5′N 7°13′E / 46.083°N 7.217°E | ||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Entremont | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Eloi Rossier | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 282.26 km2 (108.98 sq mi) | |
| Elevation (Le Châble) | 820 m (2,690 ft) | |
| Population (Dec 2015) | ||
| • Total | 8,057 | |
| • Density | 29/km2 (74/sq mi) | |
| Postal code | 1934 (Le Châble) | |
| SFOS number | 6031 | |
| Localities | Val de Bagnes, Bruson, Champsec, Cotterg, Fionnay, Le Châble, Les Morgnes, Lourtier, Medières, Mauvoisin, Montagnier, Prarreyer, Sarreyer, Verbier, Versegères, Villette | |
| Surrounded by | Vollèges, Sembrancher, Saxon VS, Riddes, Nendaz, Hérémence, Evolène, .. (Italy), Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Liddes, Orsières | |
| Website |
www SFSO statistics |
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Bagnes is a municipality in the district of Entremont in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
With an area of 282 km2 (108.88 sq mi), Bagnes used to be the largest municipality of Switzerland until the formation of Glarus Süd in 2011.
Bagnes was first mentioned in 1150 as Banie. It was formerly known by its German name, Bangis, although this is no longer used.
Before 1150, when it came to the abbey of Saint-Maurice, Bagnes was owned by the Counts of Savoy. It remained under the abbey's authority until 1798, when it became part of the Entremont district. Verbier castle (also called the abbaye) is first mentioned in 1287 in Le Châble and was presumably destroyed in 1476.
Throughout the 19th century, the radicals and conservatives feuded violently in the villages. This led, in 1844, to the bloody battle of Corberaye, in which three conservatives were killed. The battle of Corberaye brought the radicals to power, but the conservatives were able gain support from political allies and were able to return to power shortly thereafter. One consequence of this political discord was the founding of the liberal-radical free school in 1900. At the free school there was no religious instruction, in contrast to the other village schools which had been founded by religious groups. The free school remained open until 1943.
The parish is first mentioned in 1178, with the parish church at St. Martin's church in Le Châble. The parsonage was built in 1686 at Verbier. It became a rectory in 1915 and a parish in 1962. Other chapels are located in Montagnier (14th century), Sarreyer (after 1639), Lourtier (1659), Vernays (1661), Media (1679), Champsec (1684) and Versegères (1684).
The municipality suffered from frequent natural disasters, especially from the floods of the Dranse in 1469, 1595 and a particularly devastating flood in 1818. There were silver mines in the area between 1344-1723 and again in 1852-55. In 1958 the Lac de Mauvoisin Dam was built. The dam along with increasing tourism in the mid-20th Century changed the character of the villages dramatically. The village economies changed from alpine farming to domination by the services sector.
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Wikipedia