René Willien
He spent his life defending the patois and culture of the Valley
René Willien was born in 1916. He devoted most of his life to the culture of the Aosta Valley, and above all to Francoprovençal. This language is spoken in the Aosta Valley, but also in parts of Switzerland and France. Willien worked tirelessly to make it known and to protect it.
The centre at Saint-Nicolas
His most visible achievement is the Centre for Francoprovençal Studies (CEFP) at Saint-Nicolas, which now bears his name. The centre has become a point of reference for the study of the language and culture of the Aosta Valley. Its collections and research have done much to further knowledge of the region’s linguistic heritage.
A competition for schools
Willien also played a decisive part in the creation of the Cerlogne competition. This competition, named after the poet Jean-Baptiste Cerlogne, promotes Francoprovençal language, literature and traditions.
Recording dialects and place names
His name is also linked to two major projects: the Atlas of the patois of the Aosta Valley and the Toponymic Survey. The first deals with the region’s dialects, the second with its place names. Both have made it possible to document the patois and toponymy of the Valley in detail.
A prize in his name
René Willien died in February 1979. To honour his work, the Autonomous Region created the René Willien literary prize. Awarded since 1994, it rewards writers and publishers who contribute to the literature of the Aosta Valley. Today the centre at Saint-Nicolas, the competition and this prize carry on his work.
