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 WALDENSIAN
HISTORY
The original of the name Waldesian can be traced back to a wealthy merchant of Lyons who lived around 1200 and translated the Bible into the local language so that the Gospel could be preached and understood by the people. Condemned for heresy by the Church of Rome, the followers of the movement were persecuted throughout Medieval Europe. Witches burned at the stake were often accused of "waldesian practices". In the 16th century, the Waldesians joined the Reformation, adhering to the line advocated by John Calvin of Geneva.
Vernè is located in the heart of the valleys where the Waldesians survived the turmoil of the inquisition. They received their civil rights with the Edict of Emancipation in 1848. Museums and historic sites testify to the tragedies and triumphs of the Waldesians throughout the centuries.
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