Salirod

Introduction

The origin of the village name is uncertain, but in ancient maps it is mentioned with variants such as Salyro, Salleyro, Saleiro and Salero. Scholar Albert Dauzart has speculated that the root 'Sal' has pre-Indo-European origins and means 'high place' or 'stony ground', derived from the Latin 'silex' (flint). This etymological reference relates to the local geology and the numerous stonecutting works carried out over the centuries by the inhabitants to cultivate the land.

Description

The history of Salirod is rich in documentary evidence of an active and industrious village. In the Middle Ages, its inhabitants participated in major works such as the construction of the Courtaud Canal in 1393. In 1467, the village contributed to the construction of the Emarèse bell tower, and in 1748, it was among the centres involved in the abolition of feudal rights. Salirod was home to a lively and well-structured community, with a community oven, wash houses, drinking troughs, a school and a chapel, the latter dating back to at least 1713. The presence of seven grain mills along the stream testifies to an agricultural past of great importance.
Today the village, although inhabited by a few residents, retains the charm of its stone and wooden buildings. Some buildings have architectural elements that can be traced back, albeit marginally, to the Walser influence. Modern infrastructures, such as public lighting and sewers, are integrated in a mountain context that remains faithful to tradition. However, the landscape has been partially altered by the presence of television antennas, placed decades ago to serve the regional community.
During the Second World War, Salirod was a refuge for a family of German Jews fleeing the Gestapo. The local community took them in, risking their own safety. This story of solidarity is recounted in the book 'How We Escaped the Gestapo and the SS' by Karl Elsberg, presented in 1999 in Saint-Vincent.
Among the illustrious people linked to Salirod is the clergyman Daniel Page, a missionary in China and benefactor of the village chapel, who dedicated his life to the service of others, dying in 1959 in Hong Kong.

Information

• Quota: 1,090m
• alternative name: /
• populated:Yes, all year round