Les Mosses

Origin of the name Les Mosses

The pastures of Les Mosses are mentioned from the 14th century. The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Les Mosses

Les Mosses is a mountain locality of the municipality of Ormont-Dessous, in the Vaud Prealps, on a plateau straddling the Col des Mosses (1'445 m), which links Aigle to Château-d'Œx. No source consulted dates its founding or names a founder. The place was first an area of pastures, mentioned from the 14th century; the main hamlet, Les Fontaines, held cattle fairs from the 16th century. The opening of a carriage road in 1868-1869, then the development of winter sports from 1938, turned it into a resort, which forms a ski area together with La Lécherette.

History of Les Mosses

Bronze Age. A Bronze Age axe found at the Col des Mosses shows that the pass was used in prehistoric times.

14th century. The pastures of Les Mosses are mentioned.

1475. The Bernese cross the pass to seize Aigle: this is the oldest written record of a crossing of the pass.

16th century. The main hamlet, Les Fontaines, holds cattle fairs.

1832. The Ormonts call for a carriage road over the pass.

1868-1869. Construction of the carriage road over the Col des Mosses.

1870. A school opens.

1911. Construction of the church, part of the parish of the Ormonts, at L'Ortier; it was designed by the architect Charles Hepp in the Heimatstil style (to be cross-checked).

1938. A sled lift (funiluge) is installed, the start of winter tourism at Les Mosses.

1951. A ski lift is put into service (Wikipedia dates the first ski lift at Les Mosses to 1959; to be cross-checked).

1963. A chairlift to the Pic Chaussy is put into service, operating until 1987 (to be cross-checked).

1982. Les Mosses hosts the World Alpine Skiing Championships for athletes with disabilities.

Historic sites in Les Mosses

Col des Mosses. Pass at an altitude of 1'445 m in the municipality of Ormont-Dessous, between Aigle and Château-d'Œx; part of the pass is listed as a mire landscape of national importance, following the Rothenthurm initiative.

Les Fontaines. Main hamlet of Les Mosses, known for its cattle fairs from the 16th century.

Church of L'Ortier. Church built in 1911, part of the parish of the Ormonts.

Remains in Les Mosses

Bronze Age axe. Axe discovered at the Col des Mosses, evidence of the use of the pass since prehistoric times.

Sources

• Wikipédia, « Les Mosses »
• Wikipédia, « Col des Mosses »
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ormont-Dessous »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »

Other villages near Les Mosses

• La Lécherette (VD)
• La Comballaz (VD)
• Ormont-Dessous (VD)
• L'Etivaz (VD)
• Ormont-Dessus (VD)