Majorie Castle is a
castle
A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...
in the
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Sion in the
Canton of Valais
Valais ( , ; ), more formally, the Canton of Valais or Wallis, is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of thirteen districts and its capital and largest city is Sion, Switzer ...
,
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
. It is a Swiss
heritage site of national significance.
Description
The castle is composed of two main buildings: the Majorie and the Vidomnat. The Majorie is a high tower dominating the site and protected by imposing
terraced walls
A terraced wall, also a terrace wall, or a terraced retaining wall is a wall that is divided into sections ( terraces) over a slope. Such designs are useful when building on a steep grade. Terraced walls may be built with many different materi ...
. The Vidomnat, located below and westward of the Majorie tower, is made up of two three-storey square towers, which were probably conjoined after their construction.
History
The existence of the Vidomnat is mentioned as early as 1179.
The presence of the Majorie tower is attested as of 1221, when its St Michel's Chapel is mentioned for the first time. The Majorie is then called the (Sion Tower). On 15 January 1373, the castle was bought by Bishop
Guichard Tavelli, and served from then on as the official residence for the
Prince-bishops of Sion. The castle then became the Prince-bishops' seat of power. They preferred it to the more austere
Tourbillon Castle, which was less accessible. The Majorie tower probably contained reception rooms, and the buildings that served as bishops' habitation have not been preserved. In 1529, a fire destroyed the castle. It was rebuilt in 1536 under
Bishop Adrian I of Riedmatten.
During the 17th century, political power over Valais was shared between the bishops and the , but the Diet met in the Majorie Castle. A fire broke out again in 1788 and destroyed the archives of the
Diocese of Sion. Despite several reconstruction projects, the castle was left as it was, and the bishops eventually built their palace near the
Sion Cathedral in 1839–1840. The
State of Valais then bought the Majorie Castle and installed barracks there.
The Majorie Castle has been housing the since 1947. The (Bishop's Barn), the former stables of the castle, has been home to the since 2013.
See also
*
List of castles in Switzerland
This list includes castles and fortresses in Switzerland.
Entries list the name and location of the castle, fortress or ruins in each Canton in Switzerland.
Aargau
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Basel-Landschaft, Bas ...
*
Château
A château (, ; plural: châteaux) is a manor house, or palace, or residence of the lord of the manor, or a fine country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally, and still most frequently, in French-speaking re ...
*
History of Valais
*
Tourbillon Castle
*
Valère Basilica
External links
References
Cultural property of national significance in Valais
01
01
Castles in Switzerland
Castles in the canton of Valais
Sion, Switzerland
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