Ollon

Ollon

Ollon is a municipality in the district of Aigle in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The former German name Olun is no longer used today.

Geography

Ollon is located at 478 m above sea level. M., 3 km southeast of the district main town Aigle ( straight line ). The village extends on the alluvial fan of the river Bondet foot of the slope on the eastern edge of the Rhone Valley, in climatically sheltered south-facing slope at the foot of the hill forest of the Bois de la Glaive.

The area of ​​59.6 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the Vaud Alps. The vast area is bounded to the west by the Rhone. From here, the communal land extends eastward across the broad Talniederung, in the isolated hills of Saint- triphone ( in Charpigny 508 m above sea level. M. ) rises. At the foot of the slope are the flat alluvial fan of Gryonne, which always forms the southern boundary, and the alluvial fan of the Bondet.

The eastern part of the municipality extends into the Vaud Alps and includes the Chamossaire ( 2'112 m above sea level. M. ) with the two mountain lakes Lac de Bretaye and Lac Noir. On the south side of this mountain the arena of Villars -sur -Ollon and Chesières located high above the valley of the Rhone and Gryonne. North Chamossaires lies the valley of the Grande Eau, the upper side of the valley is still one of Ollon. In a small corner of the area extends further to the east on the Chaux Ronde ( 2,028 m above sea level. M. ) and the road Col de la Croix up to the rocky western flank of Culan, which already belongs to the Diablerets. On the rocky slopes of Culan is around 2,200 m above sea level. M. reached the highest point of Ollon. From the municipality surface 1997 9 % came from settlements, 45 % of forest and shrubs, 42 % to agriculture and slightly more than 4% was unproductive land.

To Ollon include numerous hamlets, isolated farms and alpine settlements, including:

• Saint- triphone, 429 m above sea level. M., in a hilly area in the Rhone valley (430 inhabitants)
• Villy, 411 m above sea level. Level, at the foot of the slope south of Ollon (205 inhabitants)
• Sala, 469 m above sea level. Level, at the foot of the slope near the entrance to the Valley of Gryonne (52 inhabitants)
• Les Fontaines, 502 m above sea level. M., on a hillside overlooking Sala (54 inhabitants)
• Antagnes, 567 m above sea level. M., above the entrance to the Valley of Gryonne (258 inhabitants)
• Glutières, 773 m above sea level. M., on the hillside above Ollon (88 inhabitants)
• Forchex, 748 m above sea level. M., on the southern slopes above the valley of Gryonne (29 inhabitants)
• Auliens, 807 m above sea level. M., on the southern slopes above the valley of Gryonne (14 inhabitants)
• Paluaires, 765 m above sea level. M., on the southern slopes above the valley of Gryonne (23 inhabitants)
• Les Combes, 884 m above sea level. M., on the southern slopes above the valley of Gryonne (27 inhabitants)
• Huémoz, 1'004 m above sea level. M., a scenic location high above the Rhone Valley (176 inhabitants)
• Les Ecovets, 1'300 m above sea level. M., in a saddle high above the Rhone Valley (38 inhabitants)
• Chesières, 1'208 m above sea level. M., south on country terrace overlooking the valley of Gryonne Chamossaires ( 1373 inhabitants)
• Villars -sur -Ollon, 1'253 m above sea level. M., south on country terrace overlooking the valley of Gryonne Chamossaires ( 1438 inhabitants)
• Arveyes, 1'231 m above sea level. M., on the southern slope of the Bois du Bilioley above the valley of Gryonne (268 inhabitants)
• Verchiez, 543 m above sea level. M., in a saddle between the heights of Plantour and Bois de la Glaive (31 inhabitants)
• Plan d' Essert, 655 m above sea level. M., on the south side of the Bois de la Glaive (31 inhabitants)
• Panex, 935 m above sea level. M., on a promontory between the valleys of the Grande Eau and Bondet (126 inhabitants)
• Plambuit, 1'123 m above sea level. M., on a terrace above the valley of the Grande Eau (22 inhabitants)
• Bretaye, 1'806 m above sea level. M., Alpine hamlet at Lac de Bretaye, east Chamossaires (23 inhabitants)
• Ensex, 1'787 m above sea level. M., Alpine hamlet on the southern slope of Chaux Ronde
• La Croix, 1'753 m above sea level. M., Alpine hamlet near the Col de la Croix

Neighboring communities of Ollon are Bex, Gryon, Ormont -Dessus, Ormont -Dessous and Aigle in the Canton of Vaud and Monthey and Collombey in the canton of Valais.

Population

With 7144 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Ollon one of the larger municipalities in the canton of Vaud. Of the residents 79.2 % are French, 5.4 % English speaking and German-speaking 3.9 % (as of 2000). The population of Ollon amounted in 1900 to 3428 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population slowly but steadily increased ( 4126 inhabitants in 1960 ). Only since 1980 (4429 inhabitants), a significantly increased population growth was recorded.

Economy

Ollon was until the end of the 19th century, mainly stamped by agriculture village. Since 1840, the upper part of municipality to Villars -sur -Ollon and Chesières developed into an important tourist resort.

Today Ollon offers approximately 2,100 jobs. With 14 % of workers who are still employed in the primary sector, agriculture still has a certain significance in the occupational structure of the population. Approximately 12 % of the workforce are employed in the industrial sector, while the service sector, 74% of workers in united (as of 2001).

Agriculture is today thanks to the extensive municipal area and the different altitudes a large variety. In the Rhôneebene there is an extensive farming and fruit-growing cultures. At the optimal sunny slopes in Ollon, Verchiez and Sala and at Saint- triphone is operated on a total area of ​​around 140 hectares of vineyards. Above the vineyards thrive on the slopes chestnut forests. The higher areas used for dairy farming and animal husbandry. East Chamossaires and in the area of the Col de la Croix there are extensive pastures for summer grazing of livestock.

The industry has settled mainly in the Rhôneebene, but is only slightly represented in Ollon towards the neighboring communities. On the hills of Saint- triphone a black limestone was gained in several quarries, the architecture for the purpose was widespread in western Switzerland and is known under the name Marbre de St. triphone. Many fountain basin, even in Bern, made ​​the stone carvers of this rock, which is one of the most important Swiss architectural materials. The companies are engaged in the construction and transportation industries. Otherwise, the trade in addition to the daily expenses is mainly oriented to the needs of tourism. Near Ollon been performed test drilling for a possible repository of radioactive waste after 1990.

Tourism

Since 1867 began with the opening of the road from Ollon to Chesières the rapid economic recovery of Villars -sur -Ollon and Chesières through tourism one. Since then, created numerous hotels, apartments, weekend homes and sports centers ( tennis, golf, ice rink). Today Villars and Chesières among the most important ski resorts in the region. The surrounding hills are accessible through several mountain railways and the cog railway Villars -Bretaye and ski lifts. By the railway line to Gryon and several ski lifts, the ski resort of Villars -sur -Ollon is connected with that of Gryon. Also during the summer, Villars is a popular resort and hiking destination of the day tourism.

Traffic

The community is a very good transport developed. It is near the main road 9, which runs from Lausanne, Sion to the Simplon pass. From this road branches off at the road to Ollon Villars -sur- Ollon. The nearest motorway junction on the A9 was opened in 1970 (Lausanne -Sion ), which runs through the municipality, around 3 km from the town center.

On June 10, 1857 Section Villeneuve -Bex of the railway line from Lausanne to Sion was inaugurated with the Saint- triphone Gare. Three private railways, which are now operated by the Transports Publics du Chablais, touch the municipality of Ollon: the Chemin de fer Aigle- Ollon - Monthey- Champéry (since April 2, 1907 ), the Chemin de fer Aigle- Sépey - Diablerets (since December 22, 1913, with stops at Verchiez, Plambuit and Exergillod ) and the Chemin de fer Bex -Villars -Bretaye. The section Gryon - Villars -sur -Ollon was put into operation on 10 June 1901 and opened to the continuation of La Bretaye 1913.

For the dispersion in public transport bus from Aigle via Ollon Villars -sur -Ollon and of Ollon care after Plambuit.

History

The municipality of Ollon was settled very early. In the Rhone Valley cemeteries have been discovered from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. During the Roman period the important trade route of Aventicum ( Avenches ) crossed by Octodurum ( Martigny ) the area. Also from this period remains available.

The first documentary mention of the place was already in the year 516, when King Sigismund of Burgundy gave the then Aulonum the newly founded Abbey of Saint -Maurice. Later, the place names Olonum, Oluns and Patoisform Ulon published.

Since the first mention of Ollon belonged to Abteigut. In the 13th century it fell gradually into the sphere of influence of the Counts of Savoy. With the conquest of domination Aigle Ollon by Bern in 1476 came under the administration of the government Aigle, but always formed a private Mandement. After the collapse of the ancien régime, the village belonged from 1798 to 1803 during the Helvetic Republic to the canton of Geneva, who came up then with the enactment of the Act of Mediation in the canton of Vaud. 1798 was assigned to the District Aigle.

At the beginning of the 19th century sought the high-lying parts of municipalities ( to Huémoz, the long time the most important mountain village above Ollon was ) for political independence. This enterprise, however, was rejected by the Vaud cantonal parliament. Already in the 16th century salt mines have been discovered in Panex with the first Swiss Saline the occurrence exploited (1832 abandoned). With the improved transport infrastructure to Villars -sur -Ollon and Chesières developed in the second half of the 19th century to major tourist destinations.

Coat of arms

Description: On quartered green and red is a silver wicked cross.

Attractions

The wine village Ollon, features a picturesque townscape with many well-preserved wine houses from the 17th to 19th centuries. Today's Reformed Church of Saint -Victor, mentioned in 1244, was owned by the Abbey of Saint -Maurice. Its current shape is the church received the new construction in the 15th century and in the transformation of the 17th century. In the choir is a fresco of the 15th century with the representation of the Apostles.

In the center stands the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) from 1722 with a massive Bernese roof. The castle with the name Château de La Roche is mentioned since 1386, but probably existed already at the end of the 12th century. It has a small round tower and was extensively restored in the 16th century.

In Panex is the Maison des Salins. From the former salt mine a tunnel and a burning buildings are still standing.

In the district of Saint- triphone whose small village center is situated on a limestone hill in the flat surface of the Rhone valley, private and publicly accessible botanical garden located (Jardin Botanique ). This garden shows Alpine and Mediterranean plant communities and has a small succulent and a specialist library. The garden including its scientific inventory is owned by William Aviolat who lives there and maintains the facility daily. Visitors are guided on request.

Personalities

• Jacques Chamorel (1901-1962), lawyer and politician (LDP )
• Frédéric Rouge (1867-1950), painter