Saint-Maurice, Switzerland
| Saint-Maurice | ||
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 Saint-Maurice
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Location of Saint-Maurice
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| Coordinates: 46°13′N 7°0′E / 46.217°N 7.000°ECoordinates: 46°13′N 7°0′E / 46.217°N 7.000°E | ||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Saint-Maurice | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.94 km2 (5.77 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 414 m (1,358 ft) | |
| Population (Dec 2015) | ||
| • Total | 4,494 | |
| • Density | 300/km2 (780/sq mi) | |
| Postal code | 1890 | |
| SFOS number | 6217 | |
| Surrounded by | Bex (VD), Collonges, Evionnaz, Lavey-Morcles (VD), Massongex, Mex, Vérossaz | |
| Website |
www SFSO statistics |
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Saint-Maurice, or Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, is a small city located in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is also the capital of the district and of the municipality of Saint-Maurice. The district of Saint-Maurice (district) is composed with 9 municipalities (commune, Gemeinde): Collonges, Dorénaz, Evionnaz, Finhaut, Massongex, Salvan, St-Maurice, Vernayaz and Vérossaz[1]. On 1 January 2013, the former municipality of Mex merged into the municipality of Saint-Maurice.
The city of Saint-Maurice is the site of the Roman outpost of Agaunum and the mediaeval St. Maurice's Abbey, which has become a famous high school in Switzerland (Collège de Saint-Maurice).
Saint-Maurice is located at the entrance a pass leading to the upper part of the Rhône valley. As such, it has a strategic importance, and defence work were built from the 15th century to control this access. The Fortress Saint-Maurice was constructed in the surrounding mountainsides from 1880 through 1995.
Saint-Maurice is first mentioned in 200 as Acaun[ensis] [quadragesimae] Gal[liarum]. In respect to Saint Maurice, the name was changed from Acaunum (French: Agaune) to Saint-Maurice in 1003.
Some traces of a Bronze Age settlement were found at the foot of the rocky spur in town. There was a Roman era town at Saint-Maurice, but very little is known about the actual layout of it. There was a customs post at Acaunum, where an import and export tariff of 2.5% was levied. The town probably had a shrine to water nymphs. According to tradition, Saint Maurice and his southern Egyptian companions of the Theban Legion were martyred in Acaunum during the reign of Maximian (286-310). Around 360-370 Theodul, the first Bishop of Valais, built a basilica in Acaunum in their honor. The basilica became a popular pilgrimage site. In 515, the King of Burgundy Sigismund founded the Abbey, which he endowed with rich land.
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