Chalet la Varlope & pavillon
In 1935 the economic crisis was at its height, and the romandie region was experiencing the highest unemployment rate it had ever known, especially in building and construction.
It was then that the FOBB (the construction and wood workers’ union) had the idea of building the ‘Chalet des Menuisiers’ (the carpenters’ chalet) to give its members most affected by the crisis something useful and healthy to do. The union wanted to renovate or build a building.
The plan required three things: a good location, an old shack, and motivated people. The motivated people turned up all by themselves because the times were hard. For the location and the ramshackle building, it took a bicycle ride and a heavy storm for our protagonists to find what they were looking for. It wasn’t in the great outdoors but sheltering in a bar in Blonay that as luck would have it they met an old farmer. He directed them to a spot on the hillside that would delight even the most jaded eyes.
The chalet was unveiled on 14 June 1936 in the presence of union representatives from Vaud, Valais and Geneva. For several years holiday camps for the members’ children were organized, as well as training courses for union members.
Over the years, volunteers made the chalet more comfortable. Bedrooms replaced the original dormitories. Parking spaces (unimaginable in 1936) were created.
In 1990, with a new economic crisis, the original idea surfaced again.
This time the chalet was enlarged and converted to meet modern standards.
The years went by, and the chalet continued to delight visitors during a weekend or a longer stay.In 2008 the union (which had become UNIA following the merger of 4 unions in 2004) wanted to optimize its resources and decided to sell the chalet ‘La Varlope.’
They wanted the chalet to retain its vocation of welcoming guests which opened the door to the creation of riviera residence ‘Chalet la Varlope & pavillon.’
