Geschichte und Kultur
Villars: from the conquest of the mountain pasture to the beginning of tourism...
Villars Tourisme
Rue Centrale
1884 Villars-sur-Ollon
Tel. +41 (0)24 495 32 32
Fax +41 (0)24 495 95 85
information@villars.ch
www.villars.ch
Rue Centrale
1884 Villars-sur-Ollon
Tel. +41 (0)24 495 32 32
Fax +41 (0)24 495 95 85
information@villars.ch
www.villars.ch
The first traces of activity go back to the 12th and 13th centuries. An intense demographic upsurge motivated the monks from the Abbey of Saint-Maurice to help the peasants who had set out to systematically conquer the mountain pastures. It was precisely at that time that man had considerably expanded the high alpine grass lands. Every mountain pasture conquered and cleared in this manner turned into a real treasure that the peasants passionately defended against the encroachments of their neighbours. Legend has it that the peasants of Ollon appeared as fierce in the defence of their mountain pastures in the courts of justice as on site against the invasive trees. In 1750, the mountain "dixains" (Villars, Chesières, Huémoz) requested to form a separate town, this idea was opposed by the Bernese lords. In 1889, the municipality demanded the archives of the "dixains" in order to add them to those of Ollon: the town became henceforth one indivisible entity.
The years of skiing...
Long ago, the mountain dwellers considered the snow, to be sad, cold, dismal and hostile. Today, skiing has changed that vision of the mountains and the snow has become a synonym for beauty, light and joy.
How far back do we have to look to find the beginning of skiing in Switzerland? It is known that in 1873, a physician from Davos, Dr. Spengler, received a pair of Lapp skis from one of his Norwegian relatives. The first attempt was a disaster and there was no next time. Other precursors made attempts but were quickly discouraged by the difficulties encountered, until the publishing in Berlin of a book by the explorer, Nansen, who recounted the crossing of Greenland on skis and provided much information on the techniques of the sport. Immediately, in various parts of Switzerland, enterprising young people set about making skis based on the indications given by Nansen and rushed to the slopes.
Villars had to wait for the building of the train to Bretaye in 1913, before skiing could really be developed. The slopes of the Bretaye region were quickly perceived as excellent for the exploitation of this activity. In 1936, the first ski lift was built at the combe on Chaux Ronde. This was a first in Switzerland, a ski lift on which the skiers were obliged to fasten themselves with a large leather belt in order to go back up the mountain. On 13 December 1936, the Orient Express specially stopped in Aigle for the monster slalom baptised "Kingdom of the great joys of skiing in winter" organised at Bretaye. The same year a ski lift was built in the form of a sledge that could accommodate 12 people for transporting the tourists to the peak of the Grand Chamossaire. These sledges were in use until 1953.
In 1932, there was no means to transport skiers up to Bretaye. The lessons were given behind the Palace on the former golf course. Classes were made up of more than 50 people. A half-day group lesson cost CHF 5.00, and a private lesson cost CHF 7.00. Sometimes by the time the last skier managed to put on his skis, the lesson was over!
In 1938, Villars was classified as one of prime resorts of Europe. Given its lead, many Swiss ski clubs came to practice in our resort. Villars became number one among winter sport resorts... unfortunately nine months later, war broke out and had as its immediate consequence: empty rooms in the grand hotels of the region.
Fortunately, brighter years followed this difficult period. Villars saw the blossoming of champions like Olivia Ausoni, Jean-Daniel Dätwyler, Cantova... and became what it is today, a family resort appreciated and enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Villars is served by the Chemin de fer Bex-Villars-Bretaye railway, featuring a Abt rack system leading from the town center to a ski piste network.
The Village of Villars overlooks the Rhône Valley and views of Mont Blanc are clearly visible from parts of the village and the local ski area of Bretaye. Bretaye is linked to Villars by the BVB railway. There is also a gondola lift connecting the village to Roc d'Orsay, 200 metres above Bretaye.
There are around 100 km of pistes for all skiing and snowboarding abilities that link over to the slopes of Gryon and to the next resort of Les Diablerets, Isenau and Glacier 3000. There is also a snow park called '1984' that allows freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
The GivenGain Foundation has its headquarters in Villars-sur-Ollon.
Boarding Schools
Villars is home to the private international school Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil, which is ranked as the most expensive boarding school in the world.[citation needed] The English boarding school Aiglon College, which is ranked the 3rd most expensive school in the world, is also in the village.[citation needed] There is also an international primary school (from 4 to 14 years of age), La Garenne School, near Aiglon College.
[edit]Sports
The village has previously hosted the Snowbombing electronic dance music andsnowboarding spring festival.
Villars-sur-Ollon is also the home of the once well known Ollon-Villars hillclimb. Racing drivers from all over the world would come to participate in this internationally renowned event. Starting in the small town of Ollon, at the base of the mountain, and covering 8 km of mountain road, arriving at the top of the mountain, in Villars. The event was popular in the fifties and early sixties, before laws were passed banning motor racing in Switzerland. In recent years a revival of the hillclimb has begun to gain a certain notoriety as collectors and enthusiasts have the chance to enjoy the rare occasion of the closed mountain road.
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