Monthey

Monthey is a commune of the Chablais, in Valais, chief town of the district éponyme and, with: 15299 inhabitants, the largest locality of this one.

History

Industry

In spite of traces of habitats Celte S, it is at the 12th century that Monthey becomes an important borough. Initially Châtellenie Savoyard, it takes again this big role once the area conquered by Were worth at the 16th century.

Following the franknesses granted in 1352 by the count Amédée VI, the middle-class makes its appearance. To grow rich, the middle-class men direct themselves towards the craft industry. Thus in the middle of the 14th century, six Mill S, of the fullers, the trip hammers, the tanneries, dyeings, of the silk trade, which used the energy created by hydraulic engines starting from water of the Vièze, contribute to the enrichment of Monthey.

1821 was a decisive date for the development of the small borough which had remained Monthey since the Moyen-Âge. It is indeed in this year that the doors of the first industry montheysanne opened: the Glassmaking, which gave its name to a district of the city. Small industries pushed letting predict a great industrial development for the future, whose symbols would be Ciba or Giovanola. There was at the time of the mills, of the Scierie S, two Tannerie S, a Brasserie, a manufacture of Tabac S, factories of Chocolat, Sucre, weapons, of Pendule S, watch glasses, five to six careers of Granit and workshops of mechanics. With the passing of years, these industries were done old and could not adapt, which explains the disappearance of the majority of them. Today, it is the principal industrial city of the Valais and the area includes/understands several pharmaceutical, chemical factories and a refinery. Among the most known companies having a site with Monthey, one can quote Novartis and Ciba, whose sites of Basle and Monthey were preserved, in spite of fusion between Ciba and Sandoz of 1996 which gave rise to Novartis, and Syngenta (which is also a property of Novartis, following fusion between the world giant of pharmaceutical and his agrochemical division with the Zeneca company).

Urban development

In the middle of the 14th century, the borough of Monthey counted only 500 to 600 inhabitants. It is truly during the industrial period, which starts in first half of the 19th century, that the figures of the population grow. Thus of: 2700 inhabitants the day before the 20th century the village grows rich by: 14000 citizens at the end of this same century. As example of this demographic mini-explosion one can quote the restricted size of the historical part of the city, of its downtown area.

As of the Years 1960, the city leaves its borders and one builds around the historical center. Thus today the majority of constructions of the town of Monthey date from the 20th century, time to which one had to place a very great number of people because of the increase of the population, which makes of Monthey a modern city. The city still continues its demographic rise, it is today the second city of Were worth, title which it charmed with Sierre a few years ago only.

Personalities

Bernard Gavillet, professional racing cyclist

Transport

On the railway line CF: Lausanne - Montreux - Sion - Aspires to - Domodossola
On the railway line AOMC: Eagle - Ollon - Monthey - Champéry
and

Sources

: History of Were worth and the cities of Chablais

Official site

External bond

Official site

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