Chesières
Origin of the name Chesières
Name origin: first written mention in 1290 in the form « Chisiery ». The etymology is not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Chesières
Chesières is not a municipality: it is a former hamlet of the municipality of Ollon, in the district of Aigle. The sources consulted name neither a founder nor a date of creation. In the Middle Ages, the Abbey of Saint-Maurice worked alpine pastures in the area. Under Bernese rule (1476-1798) and until 1874, Chesières was one of the six mountain dizains of the municipality of Ollon, with relative autonomy. From the end of the 19th century, the hamlet developed together with Villars into the tourist resort of Villars-Chesières, also called Villars-sur-Ollon.
History of Chesières
1290. First written mention, in the form « Chisiery ».
1404. Chesières has 23 hearths.
1476-1798. Under Bernese rule, Chesières is one of the dizains of the municipality of Ollon and enjoys relative autonomy.
1764. Chesières has 108 inhabitants.
1798. The municipality of Ollon, to which Chesières belongs, is assigned to the district of Aigle.
1867. Opening of the Ollon-Chesières road (dated 1868 in another source, to be cross-checked).
1874. End of the division of the municipality of Ollon into twelve dizains, including that of Chesières.
1900. Chesières has 220 inhabitants.
1906. The railway, which had reached Villars in 1901, arrives at Chesières, linked to Villars by a new bridge over the Gryonne.
1947. Founding of the La Garenne school, one of the international boarding schools of Chesières.
1949. Founding of Aiglon College, in Chesières.
2009. Chesières has 1'529 inhabitants.
Population of Chesières
| 1404 | 23 hearths (households) |
| 1764 | 108 |
| 1900 | 220 |
| 2009 | 1'529 |
Historic sites in Chesières
Aiglon College. International boarding school founded in 1949 and based in Chesières; it is one of the private schools that contributed to the resort's reputation.
École La Garenne. International boarding school founded in 1947 in Chesières.
Villars-Chesières resort. Tourist resort formed by the former hamlets of Villars and Chesières, served by road since 1867 or 1868 and by rail since 1906 for Chesières.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villars-Chesières »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ollon »
- Alain Pichard, « Ollon-Villars : évolution d'une commune de la vallée du Rhône », Geographica Helvetica 24, 1969, p. 49-67
- Wikipédia, « Villars-sur-Ollon »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de lieux (swisstopo)
Other villages near Chesières
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