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For other uses, see Martigny (disambiguation).
Martigny (German Martinach, Latin Octodurum, sometimes also Octodure in French) is the capital of the French-speaking district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of 471 meters, and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants (Martignerains or "Octoduriens"). It is a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland. One road links it over the Great St. Bernard Pass to Aosta (Italy), and the other over the col de la Forclaz to Chamonix (France). In winter, Martigny is appreciated for its numerous nearby Alp ski resorts such as Verbier.
[edit] GeographyMartigny lies at an elevation of 471 m. about 33 km south-southeast of Montreux. It is on the east edge of the Rhône valley, at the foot of the Swiss Alps, and is located at the point where the southwestern flowing Rhone turns ninety degrees northward and heads toward Lake Leman. The Drance River flows from the Valais Alps into the Rhone here. In 1997, about 24 percent of the municipality was residential, 38 percent forested, 35 percent agricultrual, and 3 percent mountainous. [edit] HistoryMartigny's history reaches back two thousand years: Celtic tribes, the Romans, and Napoleon's troupes have left behind traces. A restored Roman amphitheatre, temples, citizen living quarters, and thermal baths can be seen in Martigny today. Martigny became the first bishop's seat in Switzerland. Today it is admired for its historical districts of La Bâtiaz and Vieux-Bourg which feature churches and secular buildings worth seeing. In the first century BC, present-day Martigny was an oppidum or vicus of a Celtic tribe, the Veragri. It was then called Octodurus or Octodurum. When Julius Caesar was in Gaul (57-56 BC), he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and some cavalry into the country of the Nantuates, Veragri, and Seduni. His purpose in sending this force was to open the pass over the Alps, the pass of the Great St. Bernard, by which road the mercatores had used to travel at great risk as well as paying great tolls. (B. G. iii. 1.) The local people of the Alps had allowed these Italian merchants to pass, because if they extracted too much or mistreated them they would no longer come. But the locals got as much from this merchant trade as they could. Galba, after capturing many local strongholds and receiving the submission of the people, sent troops into the country of the Nantuates, and with the his remaining army determined to winter in Octoduru. Octoduru, which town being situated in a valley not having extensive level ground near it, is confined on all sides by very lofty mountains. There is some level ground at Martigny, and the valley of the Rhone at this part is not narrow. Caesar says that the town of Octodurus was divided into parts by a river, but he does not mention the river's name. It is the Dranse. Galba gave one part of the town to the Galli to winter in, and assigned the other to his troops. He fortified himself with a ditch and rampart, and thought he was safe. He was, however, suddenly attacked by the Galli before his defences were complete or all his supplies were brought into the camp. Thus began the Battle of Octodurus. The Romans obstinately defended themselves in a six hours' fight; when, seeing that they could no longer keep the enemy out, they made a sortie, which was successful. The Romans estimated the Galli at more than 30,000, and Caesar says that more than a third part were destroyed. The slaughter of the enemy was prodigious, which has been made an objection to Caesar's veracity, or to Galba's, who made his report to the commander. It has also been objected that the valley is not wide enough at Martigny to hold the 30,000 men. There may be error in the number that attacked, and also in the number who perished. After this escape Galba prudently withdrew his troops, and marching through the country of the Nantuates reached the land of the Allobroges, where he wintered. The region joined the Roman Empire. In 47, Emperor Claudius founded Forum Claudii Augusti, later renamed Forum Claudii Vallensium to avoid confusion with another city that was dear to him. Octodurus was the principal town of the area until the displacement of the episcopal see to Sion in the 4th century. Pliny (iii. c. 20) says that the Octodurenses received the Latinitas (Latio donati). The town appears in the Antonine Itinerary and in the Tabula Peutingeriana. In the Notit. Prov., the place is called Civitas Vallensium Octodurus. At a later period it was called Forum Claudii Vallensium Octodurensium, as an inscription shows. One authority speaks of the remains of a Roman aqueduct at Martigny. Many coins, and other memorials of the Roman time, have been found about the place. The name Octodur is manifestly Celtic. The second part of the name is Dur, water. The first part, probably some corrupt form, is not explained. The town sat on the Roman road from Augusta Praetoria (modern Aosta) in Italy. Martigny is in the region known as the Chablais which in modern times incorporates a portion of Switzerland Vaud east of the Rhone, Switzerland Valais west of the Rhone, and France in the former Savoy. In 1845-47 there was an attempt by a group of primarily Catholic Swiss cantons to secede from Switzerland and form a Catholic confederation called the Sonderbund. The Valais was to be part of the Sonderbund. General Henri Dufour with 97,000 Federal troops in 1847 prevented secession in a relatively bloodless confrontation against a slightly smaller rebel army in what is known as the Sonderbund war. The Valais decided to not fight. [edit] Culture and the Gianadda MuseumThe Romans left many archaeological remains in Martigny. The city is known for its amphitheatre, which was restored in 1978. Cow fights are held in the amphitheatre during early autumn for the "Comptoir". The city is notable for its Pierre Gianadda Foundation (Fondation Pierre Gianadda) museum. This is the most important cultural attraction in Martigny and, in addition to the Gallo-Roman Museum, houses a car museum. The building was constructed around the remains of a former Roman temple built on top of Roman ruins. The foundation hosts three painting exhibitions every year, with works by renowned masters. [edit] Economy and AgricultureMartigny is the headquarters of the Groupe Mutuel and is the headquarters of the watch brand 121time. The city is surrounded by vineyards and orchards and field crops and is famous for the resulting gastronomy which is celebrated at many area restaurants and guesthouses. The relatively warm Valais (for Switzerland) sunshine is ideal for growing strawberries, apricots, asparagus, and the wine grapes which grow on the adjacent hills and steep slopes. The nearby Dranse River drains to the Rhone in the valley where Martigny lies. [edit] TransportationMartigny is on the high speed Simplon line of the Swiss Federal Railway, SBB, which connects Italy (Domodossola) and southern Switzerland to northeastern Switzerland and the cities of Lausanne and Geneva. It also is the origin of narrow gauge railroads and bus routes that climb into the nearby mountains on both sides of the Rhone valley in which Martigny lies. One railroad goes west to Chamonix, France, crossing the border at Le Chatelard. The other railroad goes southeast to Chable and Orsieres. The regional transportation agency known as TMR SA (Transports de Martigny et Regions) operates this service and the ski trains known as the Mount-Blanc Express (to Chamonix) and the St.Bernard Express (to Orsieres). See the transportation map provided by the TMR website in the External Links section below. Thanks to Martigny's transport connections the winter sports regions of the "4 Vallées", Portes-du-Soleil and Ovronnaz are easily reached. It has been nearly one century that the two original railway companies Martigny-Orsières (MO) and Martigny-Châtelard (MC) began serving the valleys of Entremont and Trient. In 1990, the Boards of directors of MO and MC decided to combine for common management, however each company would maintain an independent status. Two new trains were started: the Saint-Bernard Express for the MO, and the Mont Blanc Express for the MC. Later the Octodure-Voyages and Orsières-Octodure-Transports companies were taken over. TMRSA is an important employer in the region with some 180 permanent staff. The French holiday resort of Chamonix is accessible from Martigny in one-and-a-half hours using the scenic narrow-gauge tracks of the "Mont Blanc Express". Crossing the wild Trient Gorge and ascending to breath-taking heights towards Chamonix (France), travelers will see waterfalls crashing down and majestic mountain crags rising in the background. Shady forests alternate with cozy villages and ultimately give way onto the grandiose glacier of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest peak. The "St Bernard Express" takes passengers from Martigny to Orsières and from there by bus through beautiful mountain countryside to the hospice on the Great St. Bernard. Pass through the Val d'Entremont to Orsières, from where a bus will take you to Champex-Lac, La Fouly or if it is summer (June to end of September) to the hospice on the Grand St. Bernard Pass. There are the legendary kennels where the dogs of the same name are bred, as well as the small local museum to view the Roman artifacts found here. [edit] Notable Martignerain
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[edit] References
[edit] External links
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