Broye-Vully: Roman history, nature and wine

A Roman amphitheatre, medieval buildings, lakeside marshes and vineyards offer different ways to experience Broye-Vully. In Avenches, history reaches back to the time of Aventicum, while trails in the Vully lead to viewpoints and historic sites. Nature reserves and museums each have their own focus, too—so you can plan a trip around culture, landscapes or both.

Roman heritage in Avenches and Vallon

The Aventicum – Musée romain d’Avenches is housed in a medieval tower above the Roman amphitheatre. Its collection includes mosaics and reliefs; the exhibition explores the history and Romanisation of Aventicum as well as the private lives of the Helvetii. One notable piece is the golden bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was discovered in 1939 in a conduit at the sanctuary of Cigognier.

The excavated remains of Aventicum include a theatre, an amphitheatre, a temple, a sanctuary, the Forum Baths and the East Gate. These remains are accessible at all times; check access conditions before your visit. An easy, accessible circular route takes you around the former city, once the capital of Roman Helvetia. It can also be completed by bicycle and offers a 360-degree panorama of the Roman site, the medieval town of Avenches, Lake Murten and the vineyards of the Vully.

The Musée romain de Vallon is also located at the site of a Roman archaeological site. Mosaics, wall paintings and various objects showcase the region’s Roman heritage and everyday life at the site during the first four centuries of our era. Special attention is given to the mosaics “Bacchus et Ariane” and “Venatio”, discovered in 1985 and 1989 respectively. Together, Avenches and Vallon offer different ways to explore the Roman past: an overview of a former city and an engaging interpretation of an archaeological site.

Nature reserves and trails by the lake

The Grande Cariçaie is Switzerland’s largest lakeside marshland, covering nearly 3,000 hectares. Most of its eight nature reserves can be reached on foot or by bicycle. The La Sauge nature centre in Cudrefin and the Champ-Pittet nature centre in Yverdon-les-Bains serve as access points to these protected areas. One suggested hike is the easy La Sauge–Chabrey route, which runs along the water through the heart of the Grande Cariçaie. Local conditions may change; check the route conditions before setting out.

For a different perspective on the landscape, try the Sentier historique du Vully. It leads to the Grottes des Roches Grises above the wine-growing village of Môtier, passes the Pierre Agassiz erratic boulder and climbs to a viewpoint. From there, the view stretches across the Three Lakes, the Jura and the Alps. The trail combines specific historic landmarks with a panorama; when planning, you can enjoy them as distinct highlights along the same route.

Winegrowing and the history of the Vully

The Vully wine-growing region is Switzerland’s only inter-cantonal AOC. Its 150 hectares are divided between 50 hectares in the canton of Vaud and 100 hectares in the canton of Fribourg. Local winemakers offer wine tastings. There is also an interactive, fun wine tourism trail using the Vaud Guide app. Visitors interested in the landscape and winegrowing can combine these activities with the Sentier historique du Vully, without reducing the different experiences to a single focus.

Moudon and Payerne: buildings and institutions

In Moudon, a historic walking tour takes in 30 remarkable buildings and brings around 600 years of history to life, particularly the Savoyard rule and the Bernese occupation. The Ville-Haute is classified as a site of national importance. At its highest point stands the Château de Rochefort, one of the town’s most significant buildings, spanning several centuries of its history. The tour and the château offer two ways to explore the past: a sequence of buildings throughout the town and a single building with a long history.

In Payerne, an interactive tour with at least 20 stops explores the architecture, history, sculptural decoration and wall paintings of the abbey church. Another institution is the Haras National Suisse, founded in 1898 as a centre for Swiss horse breeding. Today, it combines training and research in the equine sector with the promotion and support of the Franches-Montagnes horse breed. An educational trail with 33 stops leads through the Haras and introduces its various activities; check access conditions before your visit.

The Musée Clin d’Ailes is dedicated to the history of Swiss military aviation and the Swiss Air Force. Films, models and exhibitions are part of the experience, along with jets and two flight simulators. From the museum terrace, visitors can watch military aircraft near the airfield runways; airfield activity varies. A PostBus connects Payerne railway station with the airfield. The bus stop at the airfield is 500 metres from the museum. Check the timetable before travelling.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Corcelles-le-Jorat, Cudrefin, Payerne, Vers-Chez-Perrin, Bellerive Vd, Faoug, Cremin, Vully-Les-Lacs, Mur VD, Chevroux, Dompierre VD.

Go to the main travel overview: Vaud.