Old Town
Up until recently four distinct neighbourhoods made up the Commune ; these were later developed along with a fifth one - the area behind the train station currently under intense construction - resulting in today’s dynamic economy and booming tourist trade.
The Bourg district, developed to the north of the Saint-Jacques church was, for more than eight centuries, the centre of urban life and all its daily activities. From the middle of the 14th century, a hospice for the poor and the sick was established which lasted up until the end of the 18th century.
In Aigle’s western quarters, the Chapel district is centred around a sanctuary, itself a dependent of the Grand-Saint-Bernard hospice, which exists in historical records dating back to the 13th century. The chapel would later be demolished during the Reformation and today there remains very few traces of the structure in the cellars of the Saint-Pierre estate.
Also mentioned in the 12th century in the Cloisters district, at the foot of the castle, the Saint-Maurice church was thought to have been founded by the monks from the monastery of their namesake Agaune. During the Reformation the church became a parish replacing that of Saint-Jacques.
The Fountain district, so named because of its numerous water sources, is located on the right bank of the « Grande-Eau ». In all likelihood this is the most recent quarter, dating from the end of the Middle Ages. To this day a covered public wash house can still be seen. It is said that it was built by the people of Leysin to stock produce from the land and vineyards that they owned in the valley.











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