Ormont-Dessous
Origin of the name Ormont-Dessous
The name is recorded in 1200 as « Ormont » and in 1564 as « Bas-Ormont »; the old German name is « Ormund ». In German the valley was also called « Ulmenthal ». The etymology of the name Ormont is not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Ormont-Dessous
None of the sources consulted dates the founding of the municipality or names a founder. The oldest permanent settlements are at Le Sépey, La Forclaz and Cergnat, where the parish church of Saint-Maurice is recorded from 1279. In the Middle Ages the Ormonts valley depended on the abbey of Saint-Maurice before passing under the rule of various vassals of the House of Savoy (Pontverre, Saillon, Thomé). The municipality covers the central part of the Grande-Eau valley, with the villages of Le Sépey and La Forclaz and large areas of scattered settlement at Cergnat, Matélon, La Comballaz and Les Voëttes.
History of Ormont-Dessous
1200. First written mention of the name « Ormont ».
1279. The parish church of Saint-Maurice at Cergnat is recorded.
14th century. At the beginning of the century Aymon de Pontverre builds a castle on the Aigremont promontory.
around 1400. The young men of La Forclaz receive the Perche mountain pasture, then worked as a cooperative until 1974.
1425. Aigremont castle passes to the Gruyère family (to be cross-checked).
1475. The Bernese take possession of the region during the Burgundian Wars; Aigremont castle is destroyed. The Ormonts become one of the four mandements of the government of Aigle (1475-1798).
1480. The Ormonts parish, served by the church of Saint-Maurice at Cergnat, splits into the parishes of Ormont-Dessus and Ormont-Dessous, a separation made final at the Reformation.
1529. The Reformation is imposed despite strong resistance from the population.
1564. Mention of the form « Bas-Ormont ».
1674. The municipality's customary law begins to be written down. The municipality is divided into four « seytes »: Le Sépey, Cergnat, La Forclaz and Les Voëttes.
1798. The Ormonans fight the revolutionary troops. From then on the Ormonts form a circle of the Aigle district.
1832-1886. The Ormonts are the seat of a prefecture.
1839. Opening of the road from Aigle to Le Sépey, which ends the valley's isolation.
1840. An inn opens.
around 1860. Spa tourism begins at La Comballaz.
1914. The Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets railway line opens.
1938. A sledge lift (funiluge) is installed at Les Mosses, the start of winter tourism; a ski lift follows in 1951.
1974. End of the cooperative use of the Perche mountain pasture.
2008. The municipality has 42 farming and forestry holdings.
Population of Ormont-Dessous
| 1764 | 1'437 |
| 1798 | 1'689 |
| 1850 | 1'574 |
| 1900 | 1'746 |
| 1950 | 1'237 |
| 1970 | 884 |
| 2000 | 1'075 |
| 2025 | 1'261 |
Historic sites in Ormont-Dessous
Saint-Maurice church at Cergnat. Parish church recorded from 1279, which served the whole Ormonts valley until the parishes separated in 1480.
Aigremont promontory. Site of the castle built in the early 14th century by Aymon de Pontverre and destroyed in 1475.
Pont des Planches. Bridge over the Grande-Eau, listed as a Swiss cultural property of national significance.
La Comballaz. Hamlet where spa tourism began around 1860.
Les Mosses. Pass linking the Ormonts with the Pays-d'Enhaut, where winter tourism developed with a sledge lift in 1938 and a ski lift in 1951.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ormont-Dessous »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ormonts, Les »
- Wikipédia, « Ormont-Dessous »
- Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Ormont-Dessous
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