On the occasion of International Archives Week (June 8-14, 2026): the AACM presents a 1399 parchment preserved in Martigny, testifying to the rights granted by Amédée VIII.
As part of International Archives Week, organized from June 8 to 14, 2026 around the theme “#ArchivesPourLaJustice: Rights, Memory and Future”, the Association des Archives de la Commune de Martigny (AACM) is honoring an exceptional document dating from 1399. Preserved in Martigny, this original parchment bears witness to the rights, freedoms and privileges granted to the community of Martigny by Count of Savoy Amédée VIII.
To mark International Archives Week, the Association des Archives de la Commune de Martigny (AACM) is joining forces with six other Valais institutions to raise public awareness of the importance of archives and the profession of archivist.
For this 2026 edition, under the theme “#ArchivesPourLaJustice: Rights, Memory and Future”, the AACM proposes to discover a major historical document: the Franchises of Martigny of 1399. This original parchment illustrates the rights and privileges granted in perpetuity to the community of Martigny by the Count of Savoy Amédée VIII. A true witness to local history, this document sheds light on the notions of justice and rights in the Middle Ages.
From June 8, 2026, a showcase exhibition entitled “Justice and Rights in the Middle Ages: the example of the Franchises of Martigny (1399)” will be open to the public.
On Thursday June 11, 2026, several guided tours will enable visitors to discover the original document, its history and its materiality. Three presentations are scheduled at 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm. Each tour will last approximately 30 minutes.
An interactive workshop for children will also be held on June 11 at 4:30pm. In a playful way, young participants will explore some of the rights that governed daily life in Martigny 600 years ago, while imagining those that might exist 600 years from now.
Meet in front of the AACM offices, Rue des Écoles 3, Martigny.
Please register below:
- By telephone on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays between 1:30 and 5:00 p.m.
- Via the contact form, specifying day and time
For further information, please contact the organizer.