Fenêtre de Durand
Mountain Pass in Switzerland
The Fenêtre de Durand is an Alpine pass connecting Switzerland and Italy. It connects Fionnay (in Valais) on its northern side to Valpelline (in the Aosta Valley) on its southern side. At an elevation of 2,797 metres (9,177 ft) above sea level, the Fenêtre de Durand is the lowest pass on the main chain of the Alps between the Grand Combin and the Weissmies. The pass is traversed by a trail.
The pass is located between Mont Avril (west) and Mont Gelé (east).
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Fenêtre de Durand” is mountain Pass in Switzerland. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Fenêtre, Durand and Mountain, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “mountain Pass in Switzerland” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 3, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3068432. Authority coordinates are 45.910, 7.356. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Fenêtre de Durand”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Fenêtre de Durand primary sources, Fenêtre de Durand archive and Fenêtre research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Fenêtre de Durand”?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Fenêtre de Durand” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.