Arolla
Origin of the name Arolla
The name comes from the forests of Swiss stone pine (French « arolles ») around the village.[1]
Founding of Arolla
Arolla is a village in the municipality of Evolène, created in 1882 when the municipality of Hérens was divided. At first it was only an area of mayens. In the late 19th century many hotels were built and Arolla became a resort, then a good two hours' walk from Les Haudères. The village is regarded as the cradle of mountain tourism in the Val d'Hérens.[1][5]
History of Arolla
1850s. Mountain guiding emerges as a trade in the municipality. The Arolla guides, from the Pralong, Beytrison, Quinodoz, Bovier, Gaspoz, Mauris, Gaudin, Georges or Fauchère families, become known beyond Valais.[4]
around 1877. Anglican services are reportedly held from this time in a lounge of the Hôtel Collon, owned by Jean Auzevin.[3]
1896. On 6 August the Kurhaus opens, a three-storey stone building. The first guest to sign the register is the Evolène pastor, H. Percy Grubb.[2]
1901. On 22 August Jean Auzevin agrees with the Colonial and Continental Church Society to build a church for English visitors.[3]
1903. The English chapel opens on 10 July.[3]
1904. On 13 August Henry Palin Gurney, aged 56, who had set out alone, is killed in a fall near the Roussette. His body is taken to the chapel, which Bishop Samuel Edward Marsden consecrates on 21 August as St George's.[3]
1913. The owner of the Kurhaus builds his own power station to supply the hotel with electricity.[2]
1968. The Kurhaus opens for its first winter season, Arolla having become a winter sports resort with several ski tows.[2]
1972. The Swiss Reformed Church leases St George's chapel.[3]
Historic sites in Arolla
Grand Hôtel & Kurhaus. Stone hotel opened in 1896, extended to the north in 1930 and raised by two storeys in the 1960s. The founding family ran it for more than 120 years, over four generations. It has been one of the Swiss Historic Hotels since 2006.[2]
St George's English chapel. Chapel built by the hotelier Jean Auzevin for English visitors, opened in 1903 and consecrated in 1904.[3]
Haute Route and Patrouille des Glaciers. Arolla lies on the Haute Route and is one of the starting points of the Patrouille des Glaciers.[1]
Sources
- Evolène Région, « Le village d'Arolla »
- Swiss Historic Hotels, « Grand Hôtel & Kurhaus, Arolla »
- St. Peter's Anglican Church, Château-d'Oex, « History of English Churches in Switzerland: Arolla »
- Olivier Clottu, « Les familles d'Evolène », communication présentée à l'assemblée de la Société d'histoire du Valais romand à Evolène le 4.10.1970 (RERO DOC)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Evolène » (Bernard Monnet, version du 27.03.2006)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Arolla
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