Leysin

Leysin is a municipality of the canton of Vaud in the Aigle district of Switzerland. It is first mentioned around 1231–32 as Leissins, in 1352 as Leisins.

Located in the Vaudoises Alps, Leysin is a sunny alpine resort village at the eastern end of Lake Geneva in proximity to Montreux, Lausanne, and Geneva. In prior years, Leysin was known for its sanatoriums for tuberculosis; today its spectacular Alpine views across the Rhône Valley towards the Dents du Midi invite year-round mountain sports and recreation.

The entire village of Leysin and hamlet of Veyges are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

Geography

Leysin has an area, as of 2009, of 18.57 square km. Of this area, 6.48 km2 (2.50 sq mi) or 34.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 6.91 km2 (2.67 sq mi) or 37.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.43 km2 (0.55 sq mi) or 7.7% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.04 km2 (9.9 acres) or 0.2% is either rivers or lakes and 3.67 km2 (1.42 sq mi) or 19.8% is unproductive land.

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.4% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.0%. Out of the forested land, 33.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 0.0% is used for growing crops and 10.0% is pastures and 24.7% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 12.9% is unproductive vegetation and 6.9% is too rocky for vegetation.

The municipality is located in the Aigle district, on the right side of the Grande-Eau at the foot of the Tour d'Aï and the Tour de Mayen. The main village is located at an elevation of 1,260 m (4,130 ft). It consists of the village of Leysin and the hamlets of Veyges, Feydey, Aï and Mayen.

Leysin can be accessed by road or the hourly Aigle - Leysin train, which makes four area stops.

Coat of arms

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per fess Sable and Or, overall issuant from Hills in base a Pinetree all Vert.

Religion

From the 2000 census, 769 or 25.7% were Roman Catholic, while 803 or 26.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there were 110 members of an Orthodox church (or about 3.67% of the population), there was 1 individual who belongs to the Christian Catholic Church, and there were 50 individuals (or about 1.67% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 3 individuals (or about 0.10% of the population) who were Jewish, and 63 (or about 2.10% of the population) who were Islamic. There were 84 individuals who were Buddhist, 23 individuals who were Hindu and 6 individuals who belonged to another church. 612 (or about 20.41% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 474 individuals (or about 15.81% of the population) did not answer the question.