La Tour-de-Peilz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Tour-de-Peilz
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Musée Suisse du Jeu
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 La Tour-de-Peilz
Location in Switzerland
La Tour-de-Peilz
Location in Canton of Vaud
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Vaud | |
| District | Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.26 km2 (1.26 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 382 m (1,253 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 12,068 | |
| • Density | 3,702/km2 (9,588/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Les Boélands Lè Verra |
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| Postal code |
1814
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| Localities | Burier | |
| Surrounded by | Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Blonay, Montreux, Vevey | |
| Twin towns | Ornans (France), Thalwil (Switzerland) | |
La Tour-de-Peilz is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Vaud canton, which is like a state or region. The town sits right on the beautiful Lake Geneva. It is nestled between the larger towns of Montreux and Vevey.
Contents
History of La Tour-de-Peilz
This area has a long history. People from ancient groups like the Celts, Romans, and Burgundians lived here a long time ago. In the Middle Ages, the town was controlled by different rulers. These included the bishops of Sion and the counts of Geneva. Later, it became part of the region of Savoy.
A sad event happened on June 8, 1476. Mountain warriors from Haut-Simmental attacked the town. The people of La Tour-de-Peilz fought bravely, but many were killed. Later, the canton of Bern took control of the village. It remained part of Bern until 1803. That's when the canton of Vaud was created, and La Tour-de-Peilz became part of it.
Geography and Location
La Tour-de-Peilz covers an area of about 3.2 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). A good portion of this land, about 29.3%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 4.6% of the area. Most of the town, about 66.4%, is built up with buildings and roads.
The town is located on Lake Geneva. This means that all the water in the municipality is from the lake. Until 2006, La Tour-de-Peilz was part of the Vevey District. Now, it is part of the newer Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut district.
Town Symbols: Coat of Arms
The town has its own special symbol called a coat of arms. It shows a castle. The background is split into two colors: silver (or white) and red. The castle itself is "counterchanged," meaning its colors are swapped depending on the background.
People and Population
La Tour-de-Peilz has a population of over 10,000 people. About one-quarter of the people living here are from other countries. Over the past ten years, the population has grown by about 7.3%. Most of this growth is because people have moved into the town.
Most people in La Tour-de-Peilz speak French. About 83% of the population uses French as their main language. German is the second most common language, followed by Italian.
The town has people of all ages. About 10.1% of the population are children aged 0 to 9. Teenagers, aged 10 to 19, make up about 11.5%. The largest group is adults between 40 and 49 years old, making up 15.8% of the population. There are also many older adults, with about 12.1% of the population being between 60 and 69 years old.
The population of La Tour-de-Peilz has grown a lot over the years. In 1850, there were just over 1,000 people. By 2010, the population had grown to over 10,000.
Important Buildings and Sites
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The Villa Kenwin is a very important building in Switzerland. It is listed as a national heritage site. This means it is protected because of its historical or cultural value.
The Swiss Museum of Games is located in the castle of La Tour-de-Peilz. It opened in 1987. This museum is a great place for families. It shows games from all over the world and from different times in history.
Sister Cities
La Tour-de-Peilz has a special connection with another town. This is called "town twinning." It means they are like sister cities.
Ornans, a town in France
Economy and Jobs
In La Tour-de-Peilz, many people have jobs. The unemployment rate was about 4.5% in 2010. This means a small number of people who wanted jobs did not have them.
Jobs in the town are divided into three main types:
- Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming and fishing.
- Secondary sector: These jobs involve making things, like in factories or construction.
- Tertiary sector: This is the largest group of jobs. It includes services like sales, transportation, hotels, restaurants, and healthcare. Many people also work as technical experts or scientists.
Many people who live in La Tour-de-Peilz travel to other towns for work. About 21.9% of working people use public transportation. Most, about 57.5%, use a private car to get to work.
Religion in the Community
In 2000, about 37.7% of the people in La Tour-de-Peilz were Roman Catholic. Another 37.0% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. There were also smaller groups of people who belonged to other Christian churches. Some people were Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu. About 12.7% of the population said they did not belong to any church.
Education and Learning
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Many adults in La Tour-de-Peilz have a good education. About 38.4% have finished high school. Another 18.2% have gone on to higher education, like university.
The local schools offer different levels of education:
- Pre-school: Two years of optional pre-school are available for young children.
- Primary school: Students attend primary school for four years.
- Lower secondary school: This program lasts for six years.
The Musée suisse du jeu (Swiss Museum of Games) is a popular place to visit. In 2009, over 19,000 people visited the museum.
The town also has a public library called the Bibliothèque communale. In 2008, the library had over 19,000 books and other items. It loaned out more than 46,000 items that year.
Getting Around: Transportation
La Tour-de-Peilz has two train stations: Burier and La Tour-de-Peilz. Both stations are on the main Simplon railway line. You can catch regular trains from these stations to other towns like Grandson, Lausanne, and Aigle.
Famous People from La Tour-de-Peilz
Many notable people have lived in or had connections to La Tour-de-Peilz:
- Prince Adalbert of Prussia and his wife, Princess Adalbert of Prussia, both passed away here.
- The Princess of Liegnitz owned a villa in the town.
- Archduchess Isabella of Austria died here in 1973.
- Jean-Claude Biver, a famous businessman in the watch industry, is from here.
- The painter Gustave Courbet lived here for several years until his death.
- The novelist A.J. Cronin is buried in the town.
- Singer-songwriter Patrick Juvet grew up in La Tour-de-Peilz.
- Music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange has lived here.
- Tennis player Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere lives here with her family.
- Cellist Dimitry Markevitch was born in the town.
- The famous American financier J.P. Morgan went to school in La Tour-de-Peilz.
- Jacqueline de Quattro, a politician, served on the town council.
See also
In Spanish: La Tour-de-Peilz para niños
