Research in Valais - Madline Favre
Overview
Intro
In the World of the “Mèges” of Valais: A History of Healing Practices (18th–19th Centuries)
Raphael Ritz (1829–1894), The Occasional Doctor / Der Gelegenheitsdoktor, 1886, oil on canvas / Öl auf Leinwand, 85 x 120 cm, private collection / Privatsammlung. For centuries, the people of Valais often had to rely on folk healers to treat everyday illnesses and injuries. Who were these women and men? How did they acquire their knowledge, and what role did they play in their communities?Drawing on previously unpublished archival sources, this lecture explores the lives of the famous “mèges,” focusing in particular on several families of healers from the Hérens and Illiez valleys. We will explore their remedies, their recipes, their family networks, as well as their often-overlooked connection to medical texts.Far from the image of the solitary or mysterious healer, this lecture will show how these practitioners were part of a rich landscape of healthcare, where experience, observation, local traditions, and scholarly medicine intertwined. We will also examine the essential role played by women in passing down this knowledge, as well as the various occupations held by these healers, revealing career paths far more diverse than one might imagine.A deep dive into a little-known history that sheds light on the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Valais valleys and offers a fresh perspective on the healing practices of the past.
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
| Location |
Médiathèque Valais - Sion Les Arsenaux Rue de Lausanne 45 1950 Sitten Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Event Homepage | https://agenda.culturevalais.ch/fr/event/show/44489 |
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Event dates
- 01 October 2026