Orbe Vd: Mosaics, Old Town and Nature Trails

Orbe Vd brings together Roman heritage, historic buildings and various ways to spend time outdoors. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Orbe Vd, these themes can help with your planning: from visiting the Boscéaz mosaics and taking a walk through the historic town centre to longer trails in nature.

Roman mosaics of Boscéaz

At the site of the Roman villa of Boscéaz, Mosaic 9 shows how Ulysses reveals Achilles on the island of Skyros. Eight mosaics are displayed on site in pavilions. In the reception pavilion, a model of the living quarters and a multimedia animation complement the exhibition. Guided tours of the Roman mosaics are available by prior request in French, German or English.

There are several described routes for reaching the villa. After exit No. 3 Orbe on the A9 motorway, free parking is available in front of the reception pavilion. Orbe can be reached by train or bus. From Orbe station, take the postbus to Montchoisi; from there, it is about a 20-minute walk to the villa. From Chavornay station, take the Orbe–Chavornay train to Orbe station, then the bus to Montchoisi. The rest of the walk follows Route du Signal and takes about 20 minutes. Check connections and service numbers before travelling.

Old town and historic walks

The historic town centre includes the 18th-century Hôtel de Ville, the late Gothic Protestant church of Notre-Dame and the remains of a medieval château. The church was rebuilt after repeated fires; reconstruction continued until 1525. Guillaume Farel and Pierre Viret preached there. From the medieval Tour Ronde, the view stretches across the rooftops of Orbe and the Orbe plain.

Two walks with different durations are available for an overview on foot. The red walk, “Balade à travers Orbe et son passé – Circuit rouge,” takes about an hour and a half and passes the city’s main historic buildings. The yellow walk, “Balade à travers Orbe et son passé – Circuit jaune,” is a 45-minute stroll through the town centre; it starts at Place du Marché. Comparing the times can help with planning, while each route covers a different area.

Green spaces and a longer hike

The Pré-Genevois educational biotope is an urban green space dedicated to environmental education in nature. Its plantings, facilities and maintenance encourage the development of biodiversity. The Gorge of Orbe route takes considerably longer: it connects Vallorbe and Orbe over 17 kilometres; the hike is listed as taking about 4 hours and 20 minutes. The route passes through a nature reserve that has protected the site and its flora since 1970.

For the full hike, it is recommended to leave your vehicle in Orbe at Puisoir, by the football pitch, in the free car park, and then take the bus towards Vallorbe. Check parking and public transport connections before setting out; local trail conditions can also vary. This helps distinguish the longer hike from the shorter walks in the town centre, without assuming the same time commitment for both.

More things to see in Orbe and the region

Piscine d’Orbe has a 33-metre pool for swimmers and non-swimmers, as well as 1- and 3-metre diving boards, a paddling pool and a slide. If a visit to the pool is part of your plans, check its opening days before travelling. The Galerie Zwahlen also offers culture in a former winegrower’s house, with around six exhibitions a year. A coffee-roasting demonstration in Orbe uses a traditional roaster from 1920. It includes a tasting of freshly roasted coffee and a small bag to take away.

The wider Côtes de l’Orbe wine region is another distinct theme: it covers 170 hectares and about 20 wine-growing villages. The dry climate of its vineyards is suited to Gamay and Pinot Noir; the region offers cellar tastings and village wine events. The panoramic vineyard walk runs from the large wine-growing village of Arnex-sur-Orbe through the smaller vineyards of Creux de Villars and Lavaux Vully, and includes wines from about 20 winegrowers. These regional offerings complement a visit to Orbe, but are distinct from walks through the historic town centre or the Gorge of Orbe hike.

Discover more destinations: Baulmes, L’abbaye, Vuiteboeuf, Yvonand, Onnens, Vugelles-La Mothe, La Praz, Romainmôtier-Envy.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.