Temple de Villars

Temple de Villars is the Reformed Protestant church of Villars-sur-Ollon, a mountain resort in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It sits at the entrance to the village, so most visitors pass it on arrival. Built in 1961, it is still a working place of worship.

Why does Villars have a Reformed church?

Villars grew into a resort from the later 19th century. The road to Ollon (1868) and the Bex–Villars railway (1901) opened it up, and the Villars-Palace hotel arrived in 1913 (taken over by Club Méditerranée in 1968). As visitors and year-round residents multiplied, the local church community needed its own base. Villars had previously depended on the parishes of Ollon and Huémoz; an independent Reformed parish was founded here in 1947, and the temple followed in 1961.

How does it fit among the other churches in Villars?

Several denominations are present in the resort: an English church dating from 1883, a chapel from 1888, and a Catholic church from 1955. The Temple de Villars is the youngest of these and the village's Reformed church. It is a post-war building rather than a belle époque landmark, and it tells the story of how Villars kept growing through the 20th century. The Anglican church is a different building in the same resort, so do not confuse the two.

What happens there today?

Since 2000 Villars has belonged to the joint parish of Ollon-Villars, which merged the former parishes of Ollon, Huémoz and Villars. Services take place regularly, and the parish holds an annual festival here. On the first Saturday of every month at 6 pm, an ecumenical prayer is open to everyone. It is not a ticketed sight, so time your visit with a service or event, and keep the usual courtesy of a place of worship.

How do you get there?

The church stands at the entrance to Villars-sur-Ollon, at roughly 1,300 m above sea level (around 46.300 N, 7.052 E). Reach the resort by road from Ollon or by the Bex–Villars railway, running since 1901. The centre, with its shops, restaurants and lifts, is close, so a short stop combines easily with a walk through the village.

When should you visit?

Villars has both a winter ski season and a summer mountain season. The building is a year-round feature of the village, but the best moment to see it in use is during a service or the first-Saturday prayer. Check the Ollon-Villars parish notices or the Alpes vaudoises tourist listing for current times.

Frequently asked questions

When was Temple de Villars built? In 1961. The Reformed parish of Villars was established earlier, in 1947.

Are services held there? Yes, regularly, and an ecumenical prayer takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 6 pm.

Is it the same as the Anglican church in Villars? No. The English church is a separate building dating from 1883. The Temple de Villars belongs to the Reformed church.

Which parish does it belong to? Since 2000, the Ollon-Villars parish, which also covers the former parishes of Ollon and Huémoz.