On the road

CANTON OF VAUD

Population: 755,000

Capital: Lausanne.

Area: 3,212 km

Specialities: papet vaudois (chopped vegetables), saucisson vaudois (sausage), saucisse aux choux (sausage with cabbage), tomme vaudoise (cheese), Vacherin Mont-d'or, Etivaz (cheese), chocolates, wines.

Sports: headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (Lausanne), the UCI (Aigle) and 22 international federations. Athletissima, Lausanne meeting.

Tourism: Lake Geneva, Olympic Museum, Chillon and Aigle castles. Swiss Film Archive, international dance competition, Béjart Ballet. Town of Yverdon. Les Diablerets. Roman ruins. Lavaux vineyards. Montreux Jazz Festival.

Economy: health, banking, finance, insurance, consulting, training and research, engineering. Microtechnology, watchmaking, medical technologies, biotechnologies, information and communication technologies.

Websites and social media: www.vaud.ch

Km 11.9 – Échallens (Pop. 6,720)

The Wheat and Bread Festival is a celebration dedicated to wheat and bread and the professions of farmer, miller and baker, organised every ten years since 1978. It is listed in the cantonal inventory of intangible heritage of the canton of Vaud. In 1988, the Swiss National Museum of Wheat and Bread was created alongside the festival.

The municipality has twice hosted the Tour de Romandie, most recently in 2022, when Ethan Hayter won a bunch sprint.

Construction: 13th century.

Style: medieval.

History: the castle was built under Amadeus III de Montfaucon in the 13th century. In 1424, the castle became the property of Louis II de Chalon-Arlay, who had it enlarged in 1456. In 1476, following the Battle of Grandson, the castle became the property of the bailiwicks of Fribourg and Bern. In the 16th century, the castle served as the seat of the lower court of Échallens. It became the property of the municipality in the 19th century.

Current use: in addition to the municipality, the castle houses a nursery school. It also served as a prison for a time.

Listed as: cultural property of regional importance.

Km 20.7 – Chavornay (Pop. 5,440)

Construction: 12th and 15th centuries.

Style: Gothic.

History: attested since the 12th century, the temple has been rebuilt and modified several times. The oldest parts still in existence date from 1400. From the 15th century onwards, the nave was covered with a wooden vaulted ceiling reminiscent of the vault of heaven and serving to hide the exposed rafters. In the following century, the church was divided into three naves by a double row of pillars and the Gothic window in the chancel was enlarged. Below this window, at the same time, a communion table was created from a slab taken from the old baptismal font. The presbytery next to the church is the seat of the parish.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Km 35.8 – Cheseaux-Noréaz (Pop. 740)

Construction: 18th century.

History: the Champittet estate was purchased in 1777 by François-Louis-Frédéric Haldimand, a citizen of Yverdon-les-Bains and soldier in the British army. The following year, he had a château built there, which was completed in June 1791, five months after the death of its owner. The estate then passed through several hands. In 1979, the Pro Natura association and the Vaud League for the Protection of Nature purchased the building and the surrounding land. They developed a centre, inaugurated in 1985, "intended to raise public awareness of nature conservation and the Grande Cariçaie in particular", as well as the Pro Natura headquarters for French-speaking Switzerland, an exhibition, a restaurant, a bird observatory, a vegetable garden and a laboratory for studying insects.

Listed as: cultural property of national interest.

Km 50.2 – Estavayer (Pop. 10,620)

On 1 January 2017, the municipality merged with those of Bussy, Morens, Murist, Rueyres-les-Prés, Vuissens and Vernay to form the new municipality of Estavayer. In addition to the narrow streets of the medieval town, the city also offers several excursions via the extensive network of marked footpaths along the lake and in the countryside, as well as the Grande Cariçaie nature reserve and the Estavayer-le-Lac Museum and its frogs. The city's little train allows visitors to discover this small medieval town by taking a tour of some key dates and places.

Between 1960 and 2021, five Tour de Romandie finishes were held in Estavayer-le-Lac. The last winner on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in 2021 was Marc Soler, who broke away and held off the peloton to win by 22 seconds ahead of Magnus Cort and Peter Sagan.

Construction: 14th and 18th centuries.

History: founded in Lausanne in 1280, the monastery was moved to Estavayer-le-Lac in 1316. In the 15th century, Humbert of Savoy, known as "the Bastard of Savoy", on his return from Turkish captivity, had the current sanctuary built, as well as the adjoining chapel, intended to be his funeral chapel. He was buried there in 1443. In 1599, part of the convent buildings collapsed. From 1620 onwards, many young girls from the nobility of Fribourg entered the monastery and the financial situation improved. From 1687 to 1735, the convent buildings were rebuilt in several phases. During the French Revolution, the monastery took in French nuns and priests who had refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new regime.

Special feature: the 15th-century church was built in grey Molière stone thanks to the generosity of Humbert de Savoie. It was rebuilt in 1697-1699 in yellow Neuchâtel stone. A series of stained-glass windows from the Camille Ganton workshop in Ghent, Belgium, retraces the history of the monastery. They were made in 1904 during the restoration of the church.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Construction: 14th century.

Style: medieval.

History: Chenaux Castle takes its name from the wide moats that protected it. It was built in 1284 by Pierre d'Estavayer and his brother Guillaume on the model of the "Savoyard square". In 1432, the castle was acquired by Humbert, the bastard of Savoy, who completed the defensive structure. During the Burgundian War, the castle was burned down. It was thanks to the reconstruction work carried out after 1476 that the castle obtained its current appearance. Today, the castle serves as the headquarters of the Broye district prefecture.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Km 69.9 – Valbroye (Pop. 3,420)

Valbroye is the result of the merger of the municipalities of Cerniaz, Combremont-le-Grand, Combremont-le-Petit, Granges-près-Marnand, Marnand, Sassel, Seigneux and Villars-Bramard on 1 July 2011.

Km 76.6 – Lucens (Pop. 4,740)

In 2011 and then in 2017, Lucens absorbed the municipalities of Oulens-sur-Lucens, Brenles, Chesalles-sur-Moudon, Cremin, Forel-sur-Lucens, Lucens and Sarzens.

The village and its municipality are closely linked to the bishopric of Lausanne, which built the castle on the rocky outcrop in the 12th century. Under Bernese rule, Lucens became part of the bailiwick and, from 1542, became the residence of the Bernese bailiff. The building was then used as a residence, arsenal and stronghold. After the Vaudois Revolution, the castle was sold to private owners. Among them was Adrian Conan Doyle, son of the writer, who bought the building in 1965 and converted part of it into a museum in honour of the detective Sherlock Holmes. Upon Conan Doyle's death, the museum was moved to a former communal residence.

At the end of the 19th century, industry took hold with the founding of a factory producing semi-precious stones for watchmaking. A fibreglass factory, Isover, was then established and continues to operate today. In 1968, a nuclear power plant was built between Moudon and Lucens, but closed a year after its creation following an incident. The building was subsequently converted to house the collections of the Vaud cantonal museums.

The film C'était hier (It Was Yesterday) recounts the village's working-class history, using the Tour de Suisse's passage through Lucens in 1937 as a pretext.

The town has hosted the Tour de Romandie and the Tour du Pays de Vaud. The last winner in the town during the prologue of the latter event in 2015 was the late Gino Mäder, who died during the Tour de Suisse in 2023.

Construction: 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.

Style: Gothic.

History: this Gothic castle, originally built for the bishops of Lausanne, dates back to the early 13th century, with later additions in the 14th and 15th centuries. Although often attacked, Lucens remained one of the bishops' favourite retreats. Bishop Guillaume de Menthonay was murdered there in 1406, and his barber, accused of the murder, was tortured in the castle courtyard with red-hot pincers. In 1536, Bernese invaders took the castle, which became the residence of the bailiff: forty-three governors succeeded one another there until 1798. It was then sold to private owners and restored.

A little-known fact: in 1965, the castle was acquired by Adrian Conan Doyle, son of the writer, who founded the Sherlock Holmes Museum there. After his death in 1970, the museum was moved to a house in the town in 2011.

Listed as: cultural property of national interest.

Founded: 1965

History: Adrian Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's youngest son, moved to Lucens Castle in 1965 and created a museum dedicated to his father's work. In June 2001, the museum was relocated to the "Maison Rouge" in Lucens. In addition to books and objects relating to Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective created by Conan Doyle, the museum also displays furniture and personal belongings of the great British writer. The living room of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson is an exact reproduction that was built following the 1951 Festival of Britain, based on the detailed descriptions contained in the stories. The atmosphere of this sitting room, which contains hundreds of authentic objects, some of them strange and unusual, is faithfully reproduced. There are also objects that belonged to Conan Doyle and inspired him to write the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Listed as: cultural property of regional interest.

Km 89.2 – Moudon (Pop. 6,650)

Moudon has Celtic origins. It was an important vicus in Roman times. The name Moudon first appeared in 1161. In 1011, Moudon became part of the domain of the Bishop of Lausanne. Count Amadeus I of Geneva attacked these positions and built a castrum around 1127. Count Thomas I of Savoy took possession of the castle in 1207. In 1219, the bishop recognised Savoy's ownership of Moudon, while remaining its suzerain. The town then began to develop. The Church of Saint-Étienne was rebuilt in its current form between the 13th and 14th centuries. Moudon became an administrative and judicial centre and the capital of the States of Vaud. In 1536, it came under Bernese rule and became the seat of a bailiwick. In 1798, the town became the capital of the district of Moudon. It was incorporated into the district of Broye-Vully in 2008.

There are many monuments dating from the medieval period, notably the old town known as the "vieux bourg", consisting of a single street running through a fortified hill. Moudon is home to the castle and its Romanesque tower, the Layaz tower, the seigneurial house of Mézières, the seigneurial house of Rochefort, the Arnay house, the house of the States of Vaud, the Loys de Villardin house, the Tacheron house, the Moses fountain, the Justice fountain, the town hall, the Reformed Church of Saint-Étienne and finally the Broye tower, all of which are listed as Swiss cultural properties of national importance. Since 2017, Moudon has been a member of the association Les plus beaux villages de Suisse (The Most Beautiful Villages of Switzerland).

The town has hosted several finishes of the Tour de Romandie, including two individual time trials won in 1999 by Laurent Jalabert and in 2010 by Richie Porte. The last winner in the town was Marcel Kittel in the 2016 Tour de Romandie.

Construction: 12th to 15th centuries.

Style: medieval.

History: The large Romanesque tower, the only partially preserved element of the fortress, has poorly documented origins, as the foundation of the castrum by the Count of Geneva around 1127-1132 concerns the entire primitive core of the upper town. However, the "castle tower" is first mentioned in 1233, and buildings attached to this fortification appear in 1341. From 1359 onwards, the Savoy bailiffs carried out numerous maintenance and conversion works during the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Romanesque tower was originally about 25-metres high. It was built on an elongated plan measuring approximately 24 x 16 metres, with walls that were consistently about 3.40- metres thick. The walls forming the outer enclosure of the castle have largely retained their original layout, despite a major reconstruction campaign between 1417 and 1436.

After the conquest of the Pays de Vaud by the Bernese in 1536, the bailiwick seat was moved to Lucens Castle. The Tower of Moudon was subsequently used as a prison and was reduced to half its height in the 17th century. The ruin was further damaged by an earthquake in 1817, and demolition work began in 1884. This destruction was halted thanks to the intervention of archaeologist Albert Naef.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Construction: 13th and 15th centuries.

Style: late Gothic.

History: the first façade was built in the 13th century, behind the current one. In 1418, the current façade was built with a covered passageway under an arcade that extended into the façades of all the other houses on the street. The architectural style is late Gothic. In 1832, it was transformed, with the arcades being closed off. In 1934, restoration work was undertaken. The arcades were partially cleared and the cross windows were restored. The coat of arms on the façade is probably Savoyard.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Construction: 13th and 14th centuries.

Style: High Gothic.

History: the first mention of a church dedicated to Saint Étienne in Moudon dates from 1134-1143. Nicknamed "the cathedral of the Broye" by the locals, it is the largest parish church in the canton of Vaud and one of the finest examples of High Gothic architecture in French-speaking Switzerland. Construction began around 1281 and was completed around 1330 with the addition of the last three vaults and the western rose window. The bell tower, with an opening at its base for the city gate, was built between 1417 and 1436. Chapels were then added to the sides. The vaults were decorated with paintings between 1506 and 1512. The Gothic communion table dates from 1564. The Baroque organ case from 1764 was made by organ builder Adrien-Joseph Pottier and sculptors Joseph Dellion and Charles Puidoux. Finally, the stained-glass windows date from 1935-1937 (Ernest Biéler) and 1951-1953 (Charles Clément). The church was restored several times in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Km 115 – Chexbres (Pop. 2,250)

Physicist, aeronaut and oceanographer Auguste Piccard, inventor of the bathyscaphe and specialist in balloon flights, lived for many years in Chexbres, where he died in 1962. He inspired Hergé to create the character of Professor Calculus in the adventures of Tintin.

Km 123.7 – Puidoux (population 2,970)

The inhabitants of the commune are nicknamed Les Amoureux (lovers, as lovers were depicted on the commune's old coat of arms).

Construction: 12th and 15th centuries.

History: the Marsens Tower, possibly built as early as the 12th century, is first mentioned in archival sources in 1272. The name Marsens undoubtedly refers to Humilimont Abbey near Marsens, which owned property in the region. This fortification belonged for a time to the Bishop of Lausanne, then to the Francoz family in 1287, and passed in 1356 to Jean de Montsalvens, Count of Gruyère. It was ceded in 1527 to Jean de Plait, a bourgeois of Fribourg. At the end of the 15th century, the tower became a residence until the 19th century, when it fell into disrepair. In 1867, François Naef, a pastor and historian from Lutry, bought the estate and had the tower renovated. The family, who still own it today, created a foundation in 1969 to preserve the monument.

Distinguishing feature: the building is surrounded by terraced vineyards in the Lavaux appellation area. The wines are produced from various grape varieties, including Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Gamaret and Diolinoir.

Listed as: cultural property of regional importance.

Km 129.6 – Lutry (Pop. 10,750)

The Grape Harvest Festival takes place every year on the last weekend of September. It welcomes around 20,000 people over three days of celebrations. Children from Lutry's schools and brass bands and music groups perform on Sunday. All proceeds from the event go to the Lutry summer camp.

Construction: 11th century.

Style: Medieval.

History: Lutry Castle was originally built in the 14th century by the bishops of Lausanne to house the Mayor de Lutry family, who, as their name suggests, were the Mayor de Lutry, responsible for the role of mayor (representative of the bishop and governor) from 1160 onwards. After the Bernese conquest, the castle was bought by Pierre de Crousaz, who transformed it into a pseudo-fortified castle with a drawbridge, turrets, two watchtowers and a monumental entrance gate decorated with his coat of arms. The last descendant of the Crousaz family bequeathed the building to the town of Lutry in 1854. The municipal authorities moved the administration there in 1942 and carried out several successive restorations.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Construction: 12th to 16th century.

Style: Gothic.

History: the first Romanesque church, dedicated to Saint Martin, was built at the end of the 12th century by Benedictine monks. Destroyed by fire in 1344, it was rebuilt in Gothic style, with the exception of the bell tower, which was not completed until the 16th century. After the Bernese invasion, the old chapel was replaced by a second bell tower in 1569, the first one finally being destroyed in 1820. The painted vault by painter Humbert Mareschet dates from the same period. Between 1986 and 1988, restoration work restored the building to its original appearance.

Special feature: the church hosts numerous concerts, including the Lutry Bach Concerts, which have been held every year since 1957.

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.

Construction: 16th century.

Style: Gothic.

History: Maison De Prez, named after the family who built it, was constructed in the early 16th century. It has three floors, ranging from a very high ground floor to a low top floor. Its west façade is one of the only Gothic façades made of molasse. On the ground floor, it has two wells, which represent the first known water supply system in the village. The two neighbouring buildings and in particular the house at number 6 on the same street, have neutral façades as a result of later alterations; however, they are also examples of Gothic architecture considered to be "in an exceptional state of preservation".

Listed as: cultural property of national importance.