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Coordinates: 46°6′N, 7°4′E

Martigny
Country Switzerland Canton Valais District Martigny 46°6′N, 7°4′E
Population	14,973  (2005)
- Density	600 /km² (232 /sq.mi.)
Area	24.97 km² (9.6 sq mi)
Elevation	471 m (1,545 ft)
Postal code	1920
SFOS number	6136
Mayor	Olivier Dumas
Demonym	Les Martignerains
Localities	Chemin-Dessous, La Bâtiaz, La Verrerie, Le Guercet, Martigny-Bourg, Martigny-Ville
Surrounded by	Bovernier, Charrat, Dorénaz, Fully, Martigny-Combe, Salvan, Vernayaz, Vollèges
Twin towns	Vaison-la-Romaine (France), Sursee (Switzerland)
Website	www.martigny.ch
Martigny

Martigny (German: Martinach, extremely rare) is the capital of the French-speaking district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

It lies at an elevation of 475 meters. Its population is of approximately 15000 inhabitants (Martignerains or "Octoduriens"). Martigny is located at a crossroad between Italy, France and Switzerland, one road linking this town over the Great St. Bernard Pass to Aosta (Italy), and the other one, over the col de la Forclaz to Chamonix (France). In winter, Martigny is appreciated for its nearby ski resorts like Verbier.

Contents 1 History 2 Present situation 3 Notable Martignerain 4 Gallery 5 External links 6 References

In the first century BCE, 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 BCE), 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 been used to travel at great risk, and with the payment of great tolls. (B. G. iii. 1.) The people of the Alps allowed the Italian merchants to pass, because if they plundered them the merchants would not come; but they got as much out of them as they could. Galba, after taking many strong places, and receiving the submission of the people, sent off two cohorts into the country of the Nantuates, and with the remaining cohorts determined to winter in Octodurus, which town being situated in a valley with no great extent of 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 very 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.

The Romans left many archaeological remains. 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 also famous for its museum, the Pierre Gianadda Foundation, built on top of Roman ruins. The foundation hosts three painting exhibitions every year, with works by renowned masters. It also has permanent automobile and Gallo-Roman exhibitions.

The area has some apricot orchards, and vines on steep slopes which drain into the Dranse (a tributary of the Rhône River) west of the city.

• Pascal Couchepin, politician, was the President of the Swiss Confederation;

Downtown Martigny‎

View from Hotel du Parc

Cow fight in the amphitheatre

Bull Statue in Center of Martigny

• Martigny Homepage (French)/(English)
• Cow fights - Les vaches d'Hérens (French)
• Pierre Gianadda Foundation (French)/(English)

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1857).

v • d • e Municipalities in the district of Martigny, Switzerland
Bovernier | Charrat | Fully | Isérables | Leytron | Martigny | Martigny-Combe | Riddes | Saillon | Saxon | Trient Valais | Districts of Canton Valais | Municipalities of the canton of Valais

Archaeological Sites in Switzerland

Augusta Raurica · Aventicum · Noviodunum · La Tène · Lousonna · Octodure · Vallis poenina · Vitudurum