Overview
The name of the Place du Marché is a reminder of the fairs and markets of Bex, which were famous in the 18th century: merchants from the region, but also from Burgundy, Piedmont and Savoy, came here to sell and buy livestock. Architecturally, the square has not changed much between the 18th century and today, as can be seen from the many engravings, paintings and postcards that depict the place. The east, south and west sides of the square have largely retained their original houses. Only the garden on the north side of the square was replaced in 1877 by the large Post Office Building, which still houses the same establishment. The watercolour illustration is entitled "La Place du marché, un jour de foire au 18e siècle" and comes from the collection of the Association du Mandement de Bex. Revue Historique du Mandement de Bex, VII, 1973-1974.
Finds under the Place du Marché show that Bex has been inhabited for a very long time: Burgundian tombs from the 6th century have been found there. However, its current appearance evokes the history of Bex in the 18th and 19th centuries. For example, the fountain was built in 1877, but over an old watering place already attested in 18th century documents.
In the 18th century, Bex was very close to the border with the Valais. Located at the foot of the Pre-Alps on the road to Italy, the village - for Bex, unlike Aigle, did not have the status of a town at the time - enjoyed a high level of commercial activity, which was sometimes stimulated and sometimes challenged by the proximity of the Valais. Fairs were therefore particularly numerous in Bex in the 18th century. In 1786, five were announced in the almanacs. Two of them, which took place on 24 September and 31 December, did not attract many people, according to the members of the Bernese Trade Council, who had drawn up a list of the fairs and markets of the whole of the former State of Bern (the present-day cantons of Vaud, Bern without the Jura and Lower Aargau). The three other fairs in Bex, which the Bernese registers indicate are very old, take place at key times for the sale of livestock: before the ascent to the mountain pastures (the first Thursday in May) and, above all, after the desalp (the first Saturday and the last Thursday in November). People came from far and wide to buy cattle in the Chablais vaudois: the "traite foraine" - a tax paid by foreigners exporting horses or foals - indicates the passage of merchants from Burgundy (Franche-Comté), Savoy (particularly Abondance) and Piedmont.
In addition to its fairs, Bex had a market every Thursday. In 1786, the Pays de Vaud had 26 places with a weekly market (almost always towns) and 49 places - towns or villages - with one or more fairs per year. The three Vaud villages that held markets in the 18th century were in the region: Bex, Ollon and Rougemont.
For more information:
Architectural census of the canton of Vaud
A. Radeff, "Bex in the 18th century: a very active trading centre, Revue historique du Mandement de Bex 26, 1993, p. 3-9.
Location
Getting to Bex
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Practical information
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Office du Tourisme de Bex
Avenue de la Gare 68
1880 Bex
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+41 24 463 30 80
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info@bex-tourisme.ch
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