Cappella di Orsia

The chapel of Orsia in Gressoney-La-Trinité was founded in 1652 and rebuilt in 1714. Dedicated to Saint James, it is one of the rural chapels that served the scattered Walser hamlets of the parish.

Why it matters

The chapel reflects how mountain communities maintained local places of worship beyond the main parish church. Its construction and rebuilding by residents connect the religious history of Orsia with the traditions of settlement and seasonal pastoral life in the upper valley.

What to notice

The chapel stands in the hamlet of Orsia, among the settlements of the upper Lys valley. Its two recorded construction phases, in 1652 and 1714, distinguish it as an established part of the local religious landscape.

Context and history

The municipality records Peter Knäbal as founder of the first chapel in 1652; the building was rebuilt and enlarged in 1714. The dedication is to Saint James the Greater. These dates appear in the heritage listing of the Walser mountain communes and place the chapel within the network of hamlet worship in Gressoney-La-Trinité.