History of the 4 castles of Sion
The topography of Sion is very specific – situated in the middle of the Rhone Valley, the town is dotted with hills. They have always been occupied by men who have made them into observation points and defensive sites.
Valère is more a fortified village than a castle. Since the beginning of the Middle Ages and up until the end of the XVIIIth century, it was the seat of the Venerable Chapter of the cathedral church. The chapter formed the bishop's council and ensured the smooth running of the diocese. In the Middle Ages the Chapter was comprised of around thirty canons but they did not live communally. Each had his own house. Therefore, the buildings leading to the church were used as places to live and formed a small town. The undulating relief of the hill and various fortifications (outer walls, corner towers, interior doors, etc.) limited access to the site in general and to the religious building in particular, the final defensive enclave. A number of facilities such as a water butt, which is still visible with its pointed roof, and a grain mill, enabled the site's inhabitants to be self-sufficient if necessary (siege, epidemic, etc.).
The tank that collected the rainwater running off the roofs was situated behind this building. It provided a certain amount of autonomy in the event of a siege. On the right, the chapel, the masterpiece of the castle, was built at the same time as the wall supporting it. The corner turret was probably used as a church tower. It is comprised of two bays: the first was reserved for the bishop's court and the second, topped by a ribbed vault, housed the consecrated altar.
Built in the XIIIth century, these towers take their name from two individuals, the major and the vidomne, the bishop's officers who lived in them. In 1373, the bishop Guichard Tavel bought the major's tower. It thus became the main residence of the bishops of Sion for four centuries. The Majorie has been regularly renovated since but still has a good number of episcopal features such as the fireplace room, financed by Adrien I of Riedmatten (1529-1548). It is in this room that the majority of meetings of the Valais Diète were held during the Ancien Régime. The magnificent moulded stucco doorways that decorate the entrance to the rooms are also very noticeable.
Montorge Castle is symbolic of the unremitting battles between the bishop of Sion and the Counts of Savoy throughout the Middle Ages. It was built in 1233 by Aymon de Chablais, son of the Count of Savoy, and the purpose of it was to control the Rhone Valley and the road to High Valais. It was a real provocation for the bishop of Sion because it encroached upon his land. Therefore, the erection of this fortress on episcopal territory led to bloody battles with the House of Savoy. They finally ended when the castle was taken by bishop Henry of Raron in 1264.
