Sion — The Executioner's Code

The Executioner's Code investigation begins at the Remparts de Sion, remnants of the medieval wall that protected the city from the 13th century. In 1475, these walls witnessed the city resist assaults from the Bernese and Savoyards, marking a period of great instability. It is here that Pierre de Torrenté, before his capture, allegedly concealed the first elements of his code, hastily carved into the stone. Your role is to scrutinize these fortifications to uncover forgotten symbols, essential clues to understanding the extent of the conspiracy threatening the stability of Valais.

Your journey takes you to the Tour de la Vidomne, a 14th-century guard tower that served as a prison and place of judgment. This building, closely linked to episcopal justice, was the scene of numerous heresy and witchcraft trials, culminating in the Valais witch trials of the 15th century. Pierre de Torrenté was certainly interrogated here. By examining the dark walls of this tower, you search for marks, scratches, or coded messages the prisoner might have left, clues that could shed light on the true nature of his accusations and the complicity of Sion's elites.

Place de la Planta, Sion's beating heart since the Middle Ages, is your next stop. This is where the great assemblies of Valais were held, and where, in 1475, Pierre de Torrenté's condemnation was proclaimed before the crowd. Markets and popular festivals coexisted with public executions, symbolizing the power of the Bishop of Sion. Among the patrician houses surrounding it, you must identify the residences of the notables linked to the case, their coats of arms, and their construction dates, to reconstruct the alliances and rivalries that may have influenced the trial and the city's future.

Following Rue du Grand-Pont, you head towards Place des Prisons, a place that still bears the weight of Sion's judicial history. In the 15th century, this street was a bustling commercial artery, but it also led to the dungeons where the accused awaited their fate. Contemporary writings describe justice that was often swift. Here, you must decipher the hidden messages in the architecture of the old buildings on Place des Prisons, searching for evidence that the Torrenté affair was merely a facade to mask a deeper power struggle within Valais. The nearby Église Saint-Théodule offers a striking contrast to these places of repression.

Your quest leads you to Passage Supersaxo and the Chemin de Croix in Valère, sites that illustrate Sion's devotion and sacred art. Passage Supersaxo, with its 16th-century architectural details, testifies to the episcopal family's influence on the city. The Chemin de Croix, leading to the Valère Basilica, is a centuries-old pilgrimage site. It is in these places of faith, where popular piety mixes with symbols of power, that you must assemble the final pieces of the puzzle. By observing the sculptures and frescoes, you discover how Torrenté's code fits into a broader history of resistance and secrecy, revealing the complexity of power in medieval Valais and the legacy left by these 15th-century events. This exploration of Sion offers you an understanding of Valaisan heritage beyond the beaten path.