An off-grid hamlet - Taveyanne
Overview
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Intro
The picturesque hamlet of Taveyanne lies in the Vaud Alps above Gryon at the heart of a nature reserve. It comprises around 30 shingle-roofed Alpine huts on the open pastureland and which are now used as second homes.
Taveyanne is located at an altitude of around 1,650 metres. Its name derives from the word "tave", dialect for "tavillon", which means "shingle" – the material used to cover the roofs of the buildings, which vary in colour from a shimmering silver-grey to black, depending on the weather. The 30 or so Alpine huts are arranged in eight staggered rows, their rooftop ridges running right angles to the slope. The hamlet, which has a remarkably harmonious appearance, was built on a large, level meadow above a gorge where the streams that spring higher up the mountainside converge.
The settlement dates back as far as 1270, but was destroyed by fire together with the village of Gryon in 1719. The ensuing years saw the erection of 57 new Alpine huts, of which 30 have been preserved. As the hamlet is not connected to the power grid, most of its buildings are only occupied in summer. Taveyanne is well-known for its traditional "Mi-été" ("midsummer") village festival. This celebration, on the first Sunday in August, was originally held to weigh the cheese wheels produced up to that time and as a festival for the farmers and shepherds.
Trip tip
In Barboleuse near Gryon, hikers can take the gondola lift to Les Chaux, from where the hamlet can be reached on foot in about 40 minutes. The Refuge de Taveyanne offers refreshments, including a number of local specialities. A further hour's hike along the trail leads back to the summit station. Car access is restricted to persons with limited mobility.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
