L'Etivaz
Origin of the name L'Etivaz
The name appears in the forms « Leytiva » in 1460 and « Leytivaz » in 1514. It is said to derive from the patois « Léthuà », meaning « border », perhaps the border with the Ormonts. The former German name of the place is « Lessi ».
Founding of L'Etivaz
L'Etivaz is a village in the south of the municipality of Château-d'Œx, on the Col des Mosses road. Like the rest of the Pays-d'Enhaut, the valley belonged in the Middle Ages to the counts of Gruyère and formed one of the seven « établées » of the municipality of Château-d'Œx. Its pastoral role is attested by a deed of 1276 mentioning the Thoumaley and Saziémaz alpine pastures. In the 13th century the inhabitants were German-speaking; settlement seems to have continued with the establishment of farms worked all year round. After the Reformation, imposed in 1555, French-speaking families from the Pays-d'Enhaut dominated the pastures, producing butter and exploiting the forests. The sources consulted name no founder.
History of L'Etivaz
1276. A deed mentions the Thoumaley and Saziémaz alpine pastures, at the edge of the valley, at about 1'800 metres.
13th century. The inhabitants of the valley are German-speaking.
15th century. A chapel exists at L'Etivaz.
1460. Mentioned in the form « Leytiva ».
1497. Under an agreement of 2 July, the priest of Château-d'Œx undertakes, for an annual payment of five pounds, to come and celebrate Mass every Thursday in the chapel.
1514. Mentioned in the form « Leytivaz ».
1555. The Reformation is imposed; French-speaking families from the Pays-d'Enhaut then gain the upper hand over the pastures.
1584-1590. Construction of the present church on an earlier chapel; sources give 1584, or 1589-1590 with a doorway dated 1589 (to be cross-checked).
1707. Construction of a house next to the church, later acquired to lodge the pastor and adapted in 1747.
1713. L'Etivaz, until then part of the parish of Château-d'Œx, becomes an independent parish.
1714. A thermal bath attracts visitors; the spring is used until the early 20th century.
1867. A carriage road is built through the Pissot gorge, from Les Moulins.
1880-1881. Construction of the school.
1887. Opening of the hôtel des Bains.
around 1900. Construction of the Hôtel du Chamois.
1934. Construction of a cooperative cellar, regularly enlarged, for ripening the alpine cheese.
1999-2000. L'Etivaz cheese obtains the controlled designation of origin (AOC), the first Swiss product other than wine to do so (registration dated 1999 or 2000 depending on the source, to be cross-checked).
2013. The AOC designation is replaced by the protected designation of origin (AOP).
Population of L'Etivaz
| 1764 | 180 |
Historic sites in L'Etivaz
L'Etivaz church. Place of worship built in the late 16th century on an earlier chapel, its doorway bearing the date 1589. It is roofed with wooden shingles (tavillons).
Parsonage. House built in 1707, acquired to lodge the pastor after the parish was created in 1713 and adapted in 1747.
School. Building of 1880-1881 with two timber storeys above a ground floor.
Hôtel du Chamois. Hotel built around 1900: a central log building flanked by two masonry cross wings.
Maison de L'Etivaz. Seat of the cooperative of L'Etivaz alpine cheese producers, used for ripening the alpine cheeses, housed in a building built in 1990; another source dates the Maison de L'Etivaz to 1994 (to be cross-checked). The first cooperative cellar dates back to 1934.
L'Etivaz baths. Thermal spring visited from 1714 and used until the early 20th century; the hôtel des Bains dates from 1887.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « L'Etivaz »
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale (ISOS), « L'Etivaz », 2013
- Wikipédia, « L'Etivaz (fromage) »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
- geo.admin.ch, Recherche de lieux (swisstopo)
Other villages near L'Etivaz
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change