Oppens: Hilly Countryside, Themed Site and Culture

Oppens lies in a stretch of hilly countryside between the Orbe Plain and the Broye. Different watercourses and landforms shape the area: a gentle slope descends west towards the Sauteru, while the Oppens themed site lies in the Menthue Valley. Panels at the site explore the rock, landform and agriculture, giving the landscape a concrete point of reference.

Landscape and Orientation

The western part of Oppens is occupied by a gentle slope that descends towards the Sauteru; the Greyle Valley forms its boundary to the west and north. To the east, Oppens includes the Tuilière d'Oppens plateau. The Sauteru, or its tributary the Foirause, marks its western boundary, while the Menthue forms its eastern boundary. The western hillside therefore differs from the eastern plateau, with the watercourses providing each area with its own geographical reference points.

The municipality includes the hamlet of Tuilière d'Oppens on the eastern plateau, as well as several isolated farms. The themed site on the banks of the Menthue is about a 20-minute walk from the hamlet. This gives visitors two distinct reference points: the hamlet on the plateau and the site by the river.

In 1997, agriculture accounted for 68% of the municipal area, forests and woodland for 27%, and built-up areas for 4%. Agriculture therefore made up the largest of the three stated land-use shares.

The Themed Site

Seven richly illustrated panels use sketches, cross-sections and photographs to explain the rocks, the shape of a hill and the agricultural landscape. An eighth panel, in the direction of Ogens, provides more detail about the landscape opposite. The site also includes a rock face with layers of sandstone, clay and silt. It brings together geological details with views of the landform and its agricultural use.

The Chemin des Blés

The Chemin des Blés is a marked educational hiking trail about 100 kilometres long. It can be explored on foot or by bicycle in any season. The route is hilly, crossed by rivers and partly follows paved paths.

Coat of Arms and Cultural Venues

The Oppens coat of arms features three wavy bars, representing the municipality's three main watercourses: the Greyle in the west, the Sauteru in the centre and the Menthue in the east. The order of the bars reflects the geographical sequence of the waterways and adds a local emblem to the landscape's points of reference.

Café La Valeur du Temps opened in 2025 in a former classroom at the Collège in Oppens. It hosts exhibitions by local artists, as well as literary gatherings and game nights, among other events. Its former use as a classroom is another facet of the venue, alongside its programme of events.

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

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