Orbe: Old Town, River and Heritage

Orbe has historically grown on both sides of the Orbe River. In town, routes through the historic centre meet walks by the river and in the gorge. For planning your visit, the marked town walks offer different time options; farther out, nature and the Côtes de l’Orbe wine-growing landscape take centre stage.

Old Town, Towers and Historic Routes

Two marked walking routes, in yellow and red, explore the town’s history and culture. The yellow circular route, “Orbe and Its Past”, starts at the market square and leads to the sights; it takes 45 minutes. The red historic route also starts at the market square. It takes around 1.5 hours, passes important historic buildings and ends at Chemin des Présidents in the lower part of town. The time estimates can help you choose between the two routes based on how much time you have.

From the castle esplanade and the round tower, the panorama stretches across the Jura and the Alps. The round tower and a square tower are the only surviving remains of Orbe’s fortress; the round tower is open to the public year-round. The church also tells the story of earlier building phases: it was built on the site of a 12th-century chapel and, despite its eventful history, today displays a harmonious stylistic unity. The Grande Abbaye housed the world’s first orthopaedic facility. The Roman mosaics of Boscéaz are considered the finest collection of Roman mosaics north of the Alps.

By the River and in the Orbe Gorge

The “Nature in the City” walk leads from the centre to the river and shares insights into local biodiversity. Insect hotels, beavers and wild plants are introduced in a fun way. The route thus complements the historic town walks with a look at nature along the Orbe.

A nature reserve has protected the Les Gorges de l’Orbe gorge and its flora since 1970. A route through the gorge leads to the Saut du Day waterfall; a longer hike along a forest stream continues to Le Day. The entrance to Les Gorges de l’Orbe is about two kilometres from Orbe railway station. For a different perspective on the river, the “Montcherand – Passerelle bleue” circular route explores both banks of the Orbe. Its section on the right bank is marked with white-red-white hiking signs and is intended for experienced hikers.

Wine Country and Routes Through the Region

The œnotourism walk through the Côtes de l’Orbe connects Orbe with the wine-growing village of Arnex-sur-Orbe and passes through the small vineyards of Creux de Villars and Lavaux Vully. Along the way, it introduces wines from around twenty winegrowers, including characterful red grape varieties and the “King Chasselas”. The number and selection may change over time; if you are interested in a particular wine, check the current selection.

PostBus connections between Orbe and Agiez or Arnex-sur-Orbe can shorten the walk through the Côtes de l’Orbe. Check the timetables in advance if you plan to use this option. Another route starting in Orbe is SwitzerlandMobility Route 487. It passes through wine-growing villages, vineyards, forests and river landscapes, including along the Orbe near Les Clées.

More Things to Do in Orbe

At the Caveau of the Musée d’Orbe, you can watch coffee being roasted. If you are interested, check in advance whether a reservation is required and whether a demonstration is available. Urb’escape offers a different experience: this outdoor escape game explores the town’s medieval history. Check the current booking conditions before making plans.

Orbe’s swimming pool has a 33-metre-long pool, diving boards at heights of one and three metres, a paddling pool and a slide. If you are planning a visit, it is worth checking the current facilities, as features may change after renovations. Urba Kids is an indoor play centre covering more than 1,300 m² for children up to the age of twelve. Age-appropriate attractions include bouncy castles, trampolines, electric mini-cars, ball pits and slides.

Discover more destinations: Yverdon, Lausanne, La Vallée, Oron, Lavaux, Gros-De-Vaud, Northern Vaud Jura, Nyon

For the full travel overview: Vaud.