Fey: Grain History and Hiking Trails

Fey combines a rural landscape with traces of agriculture and local history. The municipality lies on the plateau between the Menthue and its tributary, the Sauteru; the forests around Fey are predominantly deciduous. A stay here can therefore combine a range of themes, from the history of wheat cultivation to hiking trails and historic buildings.

Landscape and agriculture

The former marshland of Le marais is part of the landscape’s transformation. Drainage work converted it into communal pastureland between 1920 and 1922. After the work, Fey’s soils began producing abundant wheat, rapeseed, sunflowers and sugar beets. This development provides a specific historical background to the area’s agricultural focus, which is also reflected in its themed attractions.

Waterways also shape descriptions of the area’s natural environment. Brown trout and minnows live in the Sauteruz, and amphibians found there include frogs and newts. The forests around the municipality are known for their abundance of porcini and other edible mushrooms. These details add to the picture of an area whose fields, forests and waterways each contribute a distinct aspect of the landscape.

Wheat and craftsmanship

The themed site Le blé, une céréale solaire is located on a field terrace and has a rye-straw roof. One hundred volunteers made 1,000 bundles of straw for the roof. Ten panels explain wheat cultivation, its history and the plants that grow alongside it. This site therefore highlights both agriculture and a distinctive architectural feature. A didactic viewpoint near Fey also explores the history, market and processing of wheat.

The Chemin des Blés provides a broader context for this theme: its 22-kilometre stage from Prahins to Echallens includes the site in Fey. Visitors interested in grain history and the landscape can explore these themes as part of a described route. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Hiking trails and planning your time

The fifth stage of the Tour du Gros-de-Vaud runs from Froideville to Fey. It is 15.7 kilometres long and takes around 4 hours and 10 minutes. Along this stage, the route crosses a large plateau shaped by grain cultivation and crosses the Chemin des Blés again. A small wooden footbridge crosses the valley where the Botterel flows. The Tour du Gros-de-Vaud itself is a roughly 70-kilometre, five-day hiking loop around Echallens, through landscapes, forests and rural villages.

For a shorter outing, there is an easy forest trail from the Refuge de Fey to Remble-d’en-Bas on the Sauteruz. It takes 1.5 hours. These time estimates offer a concrete comparison: the forest trail is considerably shorter than the fifth stage of the Tour du Gros-de-Vaud. There is also an option for cyclists: the Boucle du Nord et le Sauteruz cycling route is classified as an expert route and follows the Sauteruz between Opens, Pailly, Rueyres and Fey.

Fey has been on the Lausanne–Echallens–Bercher railway line since 1889. The Prahins–Echallens stage of the Chemin des Blés can be shortened by taking the LEB in Fey. If you plan to use this option, check the LEB’s latest service information and trail conditions before setting out.

Church, granary and mill

The Church of Saint-Etienne in Fey is first mentioned in 1166 and was rebuilt in 1702. The grain store Grenier de Fey – Le grenier voyageur tells a different story of local history: it was built at the end of the 15th century and returned to Fey in 2025. For centuries, farmers stored grain and seed there for future harvests. The restored store displays an oak frame, posts and restoration details that showcase the craftsmanship of past and present artisans.

The Moulin des Engrins mill is also part of the village’s history. It operated as a watermill from the 18th century until the 1940s. Together with the church and grain store, it offers a glimpse of different periods: the long history of local buildings, the former use of water power, and the handling of grain and seed.

Chocolate and local shops

L’Atelier Chocolat carries on Fey’s tradition of artisanal chocolate-making. It makes sorbets from fresh local fruit or Grand Cru chocolate; its offerings also include chocolate tastings and chocolate-making workshops. The village also has a butcher’s shop selling regional specialities, a grocery store and a chocolate shop. This selection complements the historical and landscape themes with a look at local products and artisanal production.

Discover more destinations: Montilliez, Mex, Oppens, Goumoens-Le-Jux, Goumoens-La-Ville.

Back to the regional travel overview: Gros-De-Vaud.