BRIT - Border Regions in Transition

The BRIT (Border Regions in transitions) network is a multidisciplinary project that meets every 18 months to discuss border and geopolitical issues. Following the 10th edition of BRIT which, for the first time in its history, met in the Southern hemisphere (in South America, in Arica, Chile / Tacna, Peru), the 11th Conference is co-organized by the University of Geneva and the University of Grenoble. 165 international scholars who have been researching borderlands and de/rebordering dynamics around the world attended this event, conceived as a unique occasion for those scholars to contribute to a conceptualisation of the Mobile border. One of the field trips included a tour from Geneva to Grenoble via Martigny, located in Switzerland on the crossroads to Italy and France. The group visited Le Château de la Bâtiaz, a 13th Century castle built by the Ducs de Savoie do defend their territory. A demonstration of a siege engine as well as a visit of the site and a typical Valaisan lunch were highly appreciated by this international group of university professors. It was a great occasion to showcase Valais and to welcome them with these words:
“Welcome to Valais. It is a pleasure to host such a group of scholars on the occasion of the BRIT 11th Conference – Border Regions in Transitions.
Business Valais is a parapublic organization that deals with regional economic development. Our mission is to support SMEs and to coordinate economic development between the local town administrations and the State Government. We are financed by the State Department of Economy and Trade and the local communes. The Valais Romand region includes 71 communes ranging from the French border on Lake Geneva all the way up the valley to another border, the linguistic border in Salgesch where Valais becomes Wallis and German is spoken.
Your last event took place in South America and it is a pleasure for us to showcase our region, also located in a mountainous area where geographical borders follow natural obstacles such as 4000 meter high mountains. Martigny is a crossroad, leading to Chamonix where you will be going this afternoon and also to the Val d’Aosta in Italy on the other side of the St-Bernard pass, a strategic passage over the Alps. The Romans built a road over the mountain in order to move their armies to conquer the North. Later in the 11th Century catholic monks opened the hospice at the top of the mountain to provide shelter to pilgrims. In the 18th Century the monks raised the St-Bernard Dogs, you know Beethoven, to rescue the travelers lost in the snow. In 1800 Napoleon took the reverse journey to serve his conquering ambitions. To date, the St-Bernard tunnel is a main highway connection on the way to Torino and further on to Genoa or Nice and Monaco on the French side.
The Interreg project GSB 360° is a study whereby 22 communes on the Swiss side and 11 communes on the Italian side join their efforts to develop a project to promote their region. On each side of the border to live and maintain an economic activity in rural mountain regions is a challenge. Even though our two regions are separated by a border, people on both sides have the same preoccupations. We even speak the same language, meetings take place in French and the old franco-provencal dialect is still used on both sides. This Interreg project aims to promote tourism. To do so, why not showcase our common assets: scenery, culture, historical sites and local products. Using the existing historical trail the Via Francigena, a common graphic line, carto-guides, web and smart-phone applications as well as packages including lodging and luggage transport are being developed to serve the tourists following in the footsteps of the Archbishop Sigeric who travelled from Canterburry to Rome in 990. He documented his 80 stage, 1700 km trip over many borders. With the Abbaye of St-Maurice who will celebrate 1500 years of existence in 2015 and the St-Bernard pass being the highest point of the trail, this region has the best arguments to stand out on this European Cultural Route.
When we see the success of the Way of St-James, the Camino di Santiago di Compostela, we feel that we are on the right track. Tourist trends today are geared towards nature, culture, tradition: Less is more and people these days cherish authenticity and look around, this is it, a great example of what we have to offer, hospitality, great scenery, history and culture and of course the local products you have been tasting.
I hope to see you again in the region, who knows hiking on the Via Francigena or maybe skiing in Verbier, I wish you all a great continuation of your journey over the border.”