| Bretaye | |
|---|---|
Arrival of a Bex-Villars-Bretaye train at the summit | |
| Elevation | 1,806 m (5,925 ft) |
| Traversed by | Trail (dead end railway) |
| Location | Vaud, Switzerland |
| Range | Alps |
| Coordinates | 46°19′19″N07°04′25″E / 46.32194°N 7.07361°E Coordinates: 46°19′19″N07°04′25″E / 46.32194°N 7.07361°E |
  Location in Switzerland | |
Bretaye (or Col de Bretaye) is a high mountain pass of the Swiss Alps, located above Villars-sur-Ollon in the canton of Vaud. The pass (1,806 m) is connected to Villars by the Bex–Villars–Bretaye railway, which is the second highest railway of the canton after the Montreux–Glion–Rochers-de-Naye railway. In winter, Bretaye is the main ski area of Villars and a chairlift leads to the summit of Le Chamossaire (2,112 m).
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both human and animal migration throughout Earth's history. At lower elevations it may be called a hill pass. The highest vehicle-accessible pass in the world appears to be Mana Pass, located in the Himalayas on the border between India and Tibet, China.
The Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps, represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss portion of the Jura Mountains, one of its three main physiographic regions. The Swiss Alps extend over both the Western Alps and the Eastern Alps, encompassing an area sometimes called Central Alps. While the northern ranges from the Bernese Alps to the Appenzell Alps are entirely in Switzerland, the southern ranges from the Mont Blanc massif to the Bernina massif are shared with other countries such as France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein.
Villars-sur-Ollon, commonly referred to as Villars, is a village in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, part of the municipality of Ollon. Accommodation in the village consists largely of chalets. It is also known for its boarding schools, especially for Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil and Aiglon College, two of the most expensive schools in the world.
