The bisses of Valais : man-made watercourses in Switzerland

Livre écrit par un anglophone passionné par les bisses. Les chapitres se décomposent comme suit : Climat et géographie, chronologie des constructions, constructions et maintenance, administration et régulation, disputes, eaux : droits et irrigation, nombres longueurs et dénomination, développements récents et futurs, 21 suggestions d’excursion.

Contient un index très complet ainsi qu’un glossaire.

Summary:

This is the first ever book in English – and the first general and relatively comprehensive book for many years – about these remarkable examples of human achievement which have been built and maintained in the Swiss Canton of Valais throughout the last 1000 years.

About 30 years ago Guy Bratt started getting to know – as distinct from rushing through – the Valais and he and his family came upon the bisses for the first time. His efforts to learn more about them revealed a surprising dearth of up-to-date published information and widespread ignorance of the subjet outside a small, local circle of experts. In conversation, a member of the staff of the Valais Cantonal Library in Sion confirmed that this was indeed the case and suggested, rather tentatively, that something should be done about it.

This book is the result of the fascinating research which ensued, aided and encouraged by the large number of friendly and helpful people mentioned in the Acknowledgements. As will be seen from the Contents List, an effort has been made to produce broad general coverage without encumbering it with repetitive detail.

Contents List:

Preface
Using this book
Introduction
Note on Illustrations

Chapter 1 – Climate and Geography
Chapter 2 – Chronology of Bisse – building
Chapter 3 – Construction and Maintenance
Chapter 4 – Administration and Regulations
Chapter 5 – Disputes
Chapter 6 – Water – rights and Irrigation
Chapter 7 – Numbers, Lengths and Names of Bisses
Chapter 8 – Recent Developments and Future
Chapter 9 – 21 Suggested Excursions

Maps
Appendix – List of Bisses
Glossary
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Index

• Lien prêt RERO (consulté le 25/09/2018)