Three castles walk
Departing from the centre of town, the Morges path takes you directly into the forest on a way that is only accessible on foot.
The path, shaded at first, takes you along the Morges river and then quickly leads you through the vineyards above the town and all the way to Echichens.
A fountain and a bench with a nice view on the castle of Vufflens allow to linger and enjoy a buccolic break in the village of Monnaz. Then a long series of stairs take you from Monnaz to Vufflens-le-Château.
Under the castle of Denens, a nice picnic area is waiting for you. Then the path goes back down to Chigny, then back down to Morges, still through the fields.
Did you know that Denens is the village of scarecrows? Go and discover them, they are hiding all over the village!
Chambre d'hôte - Château de Denens (© Château de Denens)
Château de Denens (©MRT)
Chambre d'hôte - Château de Denens (© Château de Denens)
Château de Morges (© SSCM Julie Masson)
Château de Morges (Julie Masson)
Vufflens Castle (© MRT)
Vufflens Castle (© MRT)
Cave du Château de Denens (© MRT)
Balade des 3 châteaux 2020 ©MRT (3)
Balade des 3 châteaux 2020 ©MRT (12)
Balade des 3 châteaux 2020 ©MRT (1)
373.50329589844
House of Tourism Morges
The staff of our House of Tourism welcomes you:
Morges House of Tourism, Rue du Château 2, 1110 Morges
High season - 1 April - 31 October
Monday to Friday : 9.00 - 17.30
Saturday and Sunday: 09.30 - 14.30
Low season - 1 November - 31 March
Monday : 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Tuesday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:30 and 1:00 PM - 5h00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: closed
Holidays
Opened : (09.30 - 14.30): Good Friday / Easter Monday / Ascension Day / Pentecost Monday / 1st August
Closed: Jeûne Monday / 25th and 26th December / 1st and 2nd January
Maison du Tourisme_Mobilité réduite (Raphaël Dupertuis)
Maison du tourisme de Morges (Raphael Dupertuis)
Maison du tourisme de Morges (Raphael Dupertuis)
Maison du tourisme de Morges (Raphael Dupertuis)
Maison du tourisme de Morges (Raphael Dupertuis)
373.58868408203
Museums in Morges Castle
Built in the 13th century by Louis of Savoy on the shore of Lake Geneva, Morges Castle now accommodates five museums.
The Military Museum presents 350 years of history. It focuses on locals from the Lake Geneva Region who went into Foreign Service, particularly Napoleon’s army, and also on military writers.
The Swiss Historic Figurine Museum shows historic reconstitutions of battlefields depicting military figurines dressed in warrior uniforms. The collection was put together by Raoul Gérard.
The Artillery Museum gives an overview of the history of cannons from the Burgundy wars to our time. 40 artillery devices and their projectiles illustrate this evolution.
The Police Museum, which was opened in 2006, tells the story of the Lake Geneva police corps founded in 1803. The police comprised 100 foot policemen, mainly locals who had fought in Napoleon’s army.
Situated in the old Bernois granary from 1991 to 2016, the Paderewski Museum is now established in the Morges Castle and displays a new design which is both modern and interactive. The renowned Polish pianist, composer and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski lived in Morges from 1897 until 1940, the year before his death. The museum brings memories of this musician and politician alive with the help of archived documents, a huge library, recordings and some of Paderewski's belongings. Discover his story, and learn how this pianist became a true hero of the Polish cause during his country's most difficult years.
If you visit the castle of Morges and its museums, do not hesitate to make a small detour to Prangins to discover its castle, its national museum and its charming village which received the prestigious Wakker Prize in 2021.
Morges Castle and its museums (©CVM)
Château de Morges (© Grégoire Chappuis)
Museums in Morges Castle (© Château de Morges - Nadia)
431.15594482422
Le Domaine de la Ville de Morges
The Town of Morges has owned vineyards since 1547. As of November 2020 the local company Bolle & Cie has been cultivating, harvesting and vinifying the 14 hectares of vines located on the heights of Morges. Resolutely oriented towards the future and the respect of its ancestral terroir, the estate will be labelled as an organic vineyard as soon as the 2020 vintage is released. Numerous awards, including those of World Chasselas Champion and Swiss Cellar of the Year in 2015, salute the work of the enthusiasts whose ambition is to produce top-of-the-range wines in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Domaine de la ville (© Domaine de la ville)
470.41540527344
Échichens
Situated between Jura and Lake Geneva, facing the Mont Blanc, Échichens benefits from a privileged situation. The commune is close to Morges. Its elegant white church, built in 1893, can be admired thanks to its hillside situation (465 metres above sea level) between the vineyards.
There are three winemakers working in their wine cellar and one winegrower who deal with 30 hectares of vineyard and produce high-quality wine. They are widely known and appreciated for their work, originally working for the Morges appellation.
The numerous events (athletic, artistic, theatrical, social), organized by the six enterprises, artists or craftsmen, show that Échichens is a lively village. At Echichens there are also three establishments of public and regional utility: Cité radieuse, École Pestalozzi, EMS Fondation Silo and also the bakery-grocery and the Café Vaudois with its beautiful terrace.
At Echichens there is also a place called Le Signal. In former times this place was used as an intermediate station for visual signals such as fire signals. They were used in order to alert in case of war. Nowadays, Le Signal d’Échichens is a magnificent outlook on the vineyards, Lake Geneva and the Alps.
(© Vincent Bailly)
Marché Cité Radieuse Echichens (© Cité radieuse)
(© Commune d'Échichens)
Signal d'Echichens (Marc Baertsch)
471.51373291016
Cave du Signal
Mr. Lionel Widmer welcomes you to Echichens to discover and taste the wines of the Cave du Signal.
Dégustation de vin (© Cave du Signal)
La terrasse (© Cave du Signal)
470.3701171875
Domaine Henri Cruchon
Domaine Henri Cruchon is above all a know-how passed down from generation to generation, a passion that encourages innovation and respect of the product, which in turn creates subtle and high-quality wines.
On the estate, the work is carried out as a family, with respect for the grapes and the environment.
Convinced of the importance of quality grapes, grown in a healthy and natural environment, Henri Cruchon and his sons turned to biodynamics in the year 2000. Today, some thirty of the 42 hectares of vines are cultivated according to this demanding method, which prohibits all chemical products and protects the ecosystems.
Among the 34 wines, made from 16 different grape varieties, several vintages are regularly praised by the media or professional competitions.
To remember: the pinot blanc, the chasselas Les Peytolères, the Noblesse de chardonnay and especially the pinot noir Le Raissenaz Grand Cru.
To taste these nectars, the Cruchon family welcomes visitors to their large and welcoming cellar, from Monday to Saturday, or by appointment for workshops or group tasting sessions.
Cave du Domaine Henri Cruchon (© Catherine Cruchon)
La famille Cruchon (© Pontus Wallstén)
476.50122070312
Cave du Bon
Founded by Ernest Gros, it has been a family domaine for three generations. Michel Gros started to make wine and commercialise 9 acres in 1962. Today, Martial Gros has taken over and is delighted to welcome you in his wine cellar to discover his wines and speak passionately about his work.
(© Jean-Pierre Mottier)
(© Jean-Pierre Mottier)
486.52090454102
Domaine Jobin
The domaine has an agricultural area of 100 acres and is divided into orchards, wheat fields and sugar beet. In spring the fruit trees blossom to the delight of passers-by. These trees play an essential ecological role: Many bird species including those in danger of extinction, find a vital place for nesting.
(© MRT)
(© MRT)
(© MRT)
486.80270385742
Domaine Les Tilleuls
Located in the commune of Monnaz since the end of the 19th century, the Duruz family cultivates 10 grape varieties covering 20-acres of vineyard. They have the pleasure to welcome you in their wine tasting cellar in order for you to discover and taste their wines.
Domaine Les Tilleuls (©MRT)
Domaine Les Tilleuls (©MRT)
Domaine Les Tilleuls (©MRT)
Domaine Les Tilleuls (©MRT)
Domaine Les Tilleuls (© Chantal Duruz)
490.00961303711
Commune de Vufflens-le-Château
The castle of Vufflens, built in the 15th century, represents the most outstanding example of a small group of Vaud castles dating from the Late Middle Ages, above all characteristic because they were built of bricks.
This impressive building with its 60 metres donjon is a private property and unfortunately not open to visitors. But one can very well admire it from the outside.
An agreeable promenade of 30 minutes through the vineyards between Vufflens-le-Château and Denens offers a splendid view on this magnificent castle, Lake Geneva and Mont-Blanc. There is also the possibility to combine a walk with a train ride on the railway line BAM between Bière, Apples and Morges.
Vufflens Le Château (© Vincent Bailly)
(© Commune de Vufflens-le-Château)
477.49505615234
Castle of Vufflens (private)
Dating from the 15th century, Vufflens Castle is the most significant example of a small group of fortified Romandy castles from the middle ages, characterised above all by its brick construction. This impressive edifice with its donjon towering 60m, is privately owned and unfortunately is not open for public viewing. A pleasant 30 minute-walk through the vineyards between Vufflens-le-Château and Denens, offers a stunning view of this magnificent castle, the lake and the Mont-Blanc. There is also a possibility to combine walking and the train, with the MBC train, linking Bière, Apples and Morges.
(© Sacha fehlmann)
(© John Golay)
L'hiver au Château de Vufflens (© Jacques Schmid)
468.13891601562
Domaine de la Balle et des Abbesses
The perey family were already cultivating grapevines in Vufflens-Le-Château in the 15th century.
The domain has been passed down through generations and has grown during the years. As of 1981, Michel Perey begins to run a part of the family domain and dedicates his time, in particular to viticulture. In 1985 he re-creates a wine cellar and wine stocking, which had ceased in 1929. The Domaine de la Balle is born. In 2006, his wife Suzanne, opened a small “Pinte” (a bar in Switzerland) to enhance the domain’s products. In 2009, following their training to be cellarwomen and winegrowers, Solange and Lucie Perey highlight the magnificent Domaine des Abbesses in Echandens.
These vine and wine enthusiasts have the pleasure in hosting wine tasting at the Domaine de la Balle in Vufflens-Le-Château or at the Domaine des Abbesses in Echandens. Visitors are welcome during the estate’s opening hours or upon request. There are various packages offering wine tastings served with local products or even full menus. Certified by Vaud Œnotourisme (Vaud Wine Tourism), the Perey family offers these gourmet moments both at Domaine de la Balle and Domaine des Abbesses.
Domaine de la Balle et des Abesses (©Suisse Tourisme)
Domaine de la Balle et des Abesses (©Suisse Tourisme)
Domaine de la Balle et des Abesses
Domaine de la Balle et des Abesses
Domaine de la Balle et des Abesses
Domaine de la Balle (© Domaine de la Balle)
Domaine de la Balle (© Domaine de la Balle)
Domaine de la Balle (© Domaine de la Balle)
Domaine des Abesses (© Domaine des Abesses)
Domaine des Abesses (© Domaine des Abesses)
Domaine des Abesses (© Domaine des Abesses)
501.34286499023
Denens
Being one of the oldest villages of the region, Denens benefits from an outstanding view on Lake Geneva and is surrounded by numerous vineyards.
Having a walk through the village of Denens, visitors have the possibility to meet winemakers in their wine cellars, where they are accomplishing the necessary work for the maturation of the new vintage.
As a result of a big festival and an international competition there are thirty scarecrows surrounding the village and inviting the visitor for an entertaining and colourful walk. This original attraction, meant to be a means for the rediscovery of the scarecrows, awards Denens the name of “World’s Capital of Scarecrows”.
The graceful covey of a white stork is not a rare sight in the sky above the village of Denens: The Acclimatisation Centre of Denens takes part in a programme that reintroduces the storks in our region.
(© Commune de Denens)
(© Commune de Denens)
(© Commune de Denens)
(© Commune de Denens)
504.17343139648
Cave du Château de Denens
The castle has changed little since 1600. The castle has been passed down eight Bernese generations through, the Tavel family and the De Buren family through matrimony. The De Buren sons represent the 7th generation to reside in the castle.
Today you can discover the family’s different wines, but equally regional produce like truffles from Denens.
Château de Denens (©MRT)
Cave du Château de Denens (© MRT)
(© Ariane Wunderli)
508.69647216797
Domaine du Brantard
The Domaine du Brantard is a couple who have at heart to exploit their land with a vision centred on the respect of nature and the soils that make up our terroir. This desire has resulted in the conversion to organic farming (2019) and the development of measures for the fauna and flora in order to find the best balance between productivity and respect for the environment.
The estate covers 9 hectares, 4 of which, spread over 3 villages, are dedicated to the cultivation of vines. This geographical spread allows for a magnificent diversity of terroirs giving birth to complex and harmonious wines with a touch of originality that is the signature of the house.
Niche cuvées, matured in exceptional containers, are regularly created to take the taster further into the magical world of wine.
The spirits are produced from the fruits of the old high orchard and the vines.
Harvested at ideal maturity for fermentation, they are then distilled in Julien Michel's stills in Cheyres.
Each distillate is guaranteed 100% natural. The spirits are then aged in different types of containers (stoneware jars and oak barrels) in order to best express their aromatic potential.
The Domaine du Brantard is also a place of hospitality and reception, whether it be during the summer refreshment bar or the winter theme evenings that are organised. The key words are always "relaxation" and "pleasure" in an exceptional and warm setting, in the middle of nature, for an outing with friends or family.
Domaine du Brantard - Denens (©Vincent Guignet)
Domaine du Brantard - Denens (©Vincent Guignet)
Domaine du Brantard - Denens (©Vincent Guignet)
Domaine du Brantard - Denens (©Vincent Guignet)
Domaine du Brantard (©VincentGuignet)
415.50357055664
Domaine des Vaugues
The domain is more than 60 years old and cultivates the experience of four generations. The traditional cellar is the ideal place to produce wines with character.
Domaine des Vaugues (©Domaine des Vaugues)
Domaine des Vaugues (©Domaine des Vaugues)
Domaine des Vaugues (©Domaine des Vaugues)
Domaine des Vaugues (©Domaine des Vaugues)
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