Villars

Villars, officially Villars-sur-Ollon, is a resort town in the Vaudois Alps, located in the canton of Vaud in French-speaking Switzerland, at an altitude of around 1,300 metres. The town enjoys open views over the surrounding peaks, including the Dents du Midi and, on clear days, Mont Blanc. Accessible via a cogwheel railway connecting Bex to Bretaye, Villars serves as a popular base for winter skiing, with a ski area linked to the neighbouring resorts of Gryon and Les Diablerets, as well as for hiking and mountain biking in summer. The resort also offers sporting facilities such as a golf course, an ice rink and waymarked trails suited to various levels. Villars is also known for hosting several international schools, giving it a diverse resident population for part of the year. The architecture combines traditional chalets with more modern buildings, reflecting its gradual development since the late 19th century as a holiday destination. Its proximity to Lake Geneva and larger towns such as Lausanne or Montreux makes day trips from the resort straightforward.