Administration
communale
T +41 27 768 12 10 commune@finhaut.ch
Office du Tourisme
T +41 27 768 12 78
T +41 27 768 12 10 commune@finhaut.ch
Office du Tourisme
T +41 27 768 12 78
You are here > Municipality > A bit of History
History
The town is inhabited since the late 13th century. Originally Salvan and Vallorcine, its first inhabitants lived off agriculture and seasonal commerce.
THE GOLDEN AGE
In the early 19th century, Finhaut sees a drastic change. Located on the route Chamonix-Martigny, the region is becoming more popular, especially with the stagecoach route in 1861 and the railway in 1906. The early 20th century coincided with the golden age of tourism. The European aristocracy and bourgeoisie rendezvous there in summer. But the First World War put an end to the tourist boom of the Belle Epoque.
THE END OF AN ERA
The economic crisis of 1929 is a new setback to tourism development. Finhaut turned to cures. The Regional Water bottling has the highest radioactivity levels in Switzerland for a source of cold water. This activity lasts only a decade and most hotels close in the years 1950-60.
THE DAWN OF DAMS
During the interwar years, SBB build the dam Barberine to electrify the railway network in Switzerland. A plant is inaugurated in Châtelard Village in 1925 and new jobs are created. In the early 1950s, the SBB builds the dam of Old Emosson. Fifteen years later, they team up with EDF and Motor Columbus to build the third largest dam in Switzerland: Emosson.
These achievements provide new financial resources to Finhaut. They have enabled the town to renovate the old hotels that had fallen into ruins. These have since been converted into apartments and housing groups. Population, which numbered more than 400 people until 1980, but had dropped below 300 in 1989, now nearly 370 inhabitants.
More details on the story>>
www.vallistriensis.ch
In the early 19th century, Finhaut sees a drastic change. Located on the route Chamonix-Martigny, the region is becoming more popular, especially with the stagecoach route in 1861 and the railway in 1906. The early 20th century coincided with the golden age of tourism. The European aristocracy and bourgeoisie rendezvous there in summer. But the First World War put an end to the tourist boom of the Belle Epoque.
THE END OF AN ERA
The economic crisis of 1929 is a new setback to tourism development. Finhaut turned to cures. The Regional Water bottling has the highest radioactivity levels in Switzerland for a source of cold water. This activity lasts only a decade and most hotels close in the years 1950-60.
THE DAWN OF DAMS
During the interwar years, SBB build the dam Barberine to electrify the railway network in Switzerland. A plant is inaugurated in Châtelard Village in 1925 and new jobs are created. In the early 1950s, the SBB builds the dam of Old Emosson. Fifteen years later, they team up with EDF and Motor Columbus to build the third largest dam in Switzerland: Emosson.
These achievements provide new financial resources to Finhaut. They have enabled the town to renovate the old hotels that had fallen into ruins. These have since been converted into apartments and housing groups. Population, which numbered more than 400 people until 1980, but had dropped below 300 in 1989, now nearly 370 inhabitants.
More details on the story>>
www.vallistriensis.ch
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