Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Valais

As this place has a strategic value securing the road to the upper part of the Rhône valley, that continued from there on via the St. Bernard Pass to Italy, a Roman outpost named Agaunum existed here. The best known Roman legion ever been here, was the Theban Legion, that later got known as the "Martyrs of Agaunum". Following a stiry written down by afflatus of Eucherius, Bishop of Lyon, around 430, the Legion was commanded by Maurice (Mauritius), Candidus, Innocent and Exuperius. Since the Legion had refused to sacrifice to the Emperor Diocletian orders were given to "decimate" the legion by putting to death a tenth of its men. This act was repeated until none were left. Bodies identified as the "martyrs of Agaunum" had been discovered here and a basilica was built in their honor. An abbey was founded in the early 6th century on land donated by King Sigismund of Burgundy. This was a very popular place for pilgrims until Otto I ("Otto the Great") in 961 "translated" the relics of Saint Maurice to Magdeburg, where Otto founded a bishopric soon after. The relics still are in the Magdeburg Cathedral, near the tomb of Otto I and his wife Eadgyth. The abbey survived the loss - and is still existing. With a history of 1500 years it may be the oldest existing convent in mid Europe. As the abbey´s church was built under a cliff, the building got frequently damaged by rockfalls, the last of such events happed in 1942 and damaged the tower. Most, what is seen today, dates to the 17th and early 18th century.

As this place has a strategic value securing the road to the upper part of the Rhône valley, that continued from there on via the St. Bernard Pass to Italy, a Roman outpost named Agaunum existed here. The best known Roman legion ever been here, was the Theban Legion, that later got known as the "Martyrs of Agaunum". Following a stiry written down by afflatus of Eucherius, Bishop of Lyon, around 430, the Legion was commanded by Maurice (Mauritius), Candidus, Innocent and Exuperius. Since the Legion had refused to sacrifice to the Emperor Diocletian orders were given to "decimate" the legion by putting to death a tenth of its men. This act was repeated until none were left. Bodies identified as the "martyrs of Agaunum" had been discovered here and a basilica was built in their honor. An abbey was founded in the early 6th century on land donated by King Sigismund of Burgundy. This was a very popular place for pilgrims until Otto I ("Otto the Great") in 961 "translated" the relics of Saint Maurice to Magdeburg, where Otto founded a bishopric soon after. The relics still are in the Magdeburg Cathedral, near the tomb of Otto I and his wife Eadgyth. The abbey survived the loss - and is still existing. With a history of 1500 years it may be the oldest existing convent in mid Europe.

Following the valley of the Rhone, approaching Sion (German: Sitten) from the East in heavy rain. Seen to the right is Tourbillon Castle (= Château de Tourbillon), seen to the left is the Valère Basilica, also called "Château de Valère", due to it´s strong fortification. The weather was so bad, I just stopped for a coffie - and continued.

Not much is known about the parish church dedicated to St. Mauritius (= Moritz, Maurice). It is located in the old village center of Naters, where a church is mentioned the first time in 1018. The Romanesque tower dates to the 12th century, the steeple was added in 1514. The nave got erected in early Baroque style 1569-1564. In 1514 the ossuary was built next to the church. Inside are the skulls and bones of about 30.000 pious men and women, waiting for the Day of Final Judgment. A glimpse inside the ossuary - and into our future. The sentence above the skulls can often be found in such ossuaries. "Was Ihr seid / das waren wir - Was wir sind / das werdet ihr." Translates to "What you are now, we once were / what we are now, you shall be" and can be seen on Roman tombs "Quod sumus, hoc eritis. Fuimos quandoque, quod estis".

Not much is known about the parish church dedicated to St. Mauritius (= Moritz, Maurice). It is located in the old village center of Naters, where a church is mentioned the first time in 1018. The Romanesque tower dates to the 12th century, the steeple was added in 1514. The nave got erected in early Baroque style 1569-1564. In 1514 the ossuary was built next to the church. Inside are the skulls and bones of about 30.000 pious men and women, waiting for the Day of Final Judgment.

Not much is known about the parish church dedicated to St. Mauritius (= Moritz, Maurice). It is located in the old village center of Naters, in the valley of the Rhone, where a church is mentioned the first time in 1018. The Romanesque tower dates to the 12th century, the steeple was added in 1514. The nave got erected in early Baroque style 1569-1564, the porch was added 4 years later. In December 1755 the church partly collapsed during the "Valais earthquake".