Leysin

Leysin
Coat of arms
Leysin Show map of Switzerland Leysin Show map of Canton of Vaud
Location of Leysin
Coordinates: 46°20′N 7°00′E / 46.333°N 7.000°E / 46.333; 7.000Coordinates: 46°20′N 7°00′E / 46.333°N 7.000°E / 46.333; 7.000
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Vaud
District	Aigle
Government
• Mayor	Syndic
Area
• Total	18.57 km2 (7.17 sq mi)
Elevation	1,260 m (4,130 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	4,224
• Density	230/km2 (590/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Leysenouds
Postal code	1854
SFOS number	5407
Localities	Crettaz, Veyges
Surrounded by	Ormont-Dessous, Aigle, Yvorne, Corbeyrier
Website	leysin-commune.ch Profile (French), SFSO statistics

Leysin is a municipality of the canton of Vaud in the Aigle district of Switzerland. It is first mentioned around 1231–32 as Leissins, in 1352 as Leisins.

Located in the Vaudoises Alps, Leysin is a sunny alpine resort village at the eastern end of Lake Geneva in proximity to Montreux, Lausanne, and Geneva. In prior years, Leysin was known for its sanatoriums for tuberculosis; today its spectacular Alpine views across the Rhône Valley towards the Dents du Midi invite year-round mountain sports and recreation.

The entire village of Leysin and hamlet of Veyges are designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

Leysin has an area, as of 2009^[update], of 18.57 square kilometers (7.17 sq mi). Of this area, 6.48 km² (2.50 sq mi) or 34.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 6.91 km² (2.67 sq mi) or 37.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.43 km² (0.55 sq mi) or 7.7% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.04 km² (9.9 acres) or 0.2% is either rivers or lakes and 3.67 km² (1.42 sq mi) or 19.8% is unproductive land.

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.4% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.0%. Out of the forested land, 33.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 0.0% is used for growing crops and 10.0% is pastures and 24.7% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water. Of the unproductive areas, 12.9% is unproductive vegetation and 6.9% is too rocky for vegetation.

The municipality is located in the Aigle district, on the right side of the Grande-Eau at the foot of the Tour d'Aï and the Tour de Mayen. The main village is located at an elevation of 1,260 m (4,130 ft). It consists of the village of Leysin and the hamlets of Veyges, Feydey, Aï and Mayen.