Cuarnens: Village history on the Venoge

Cuarnens lies at the foot of the Jura, on the road from Cossonay to the Vallée de Joux. Stately houses on both sides of the Venoge give it the picturesque character of a typical farming village. The Venoge floodplain, shaped by a bend in the river, also plays a decisive role in the layout of the village. The river, agriculture and historic buildings are therefore three themes that can guide a stay in Cuarnens.

The Venoge and village history

The Venoge shaped the development of Cuarnens. Along the river, up to four waterwheels powered various facilities, including sawmills, forges and mills. The watercourse is therefore part of both the village landscape and the history of local work. One specific example is the pre-industrial Moulin-Dessus complex on a branch of the Venoge: from the 17th century until the mid-20th century, it included a mill and a sawmill.

Agricultural production has long shaped the local economy. The history of cheesemaking is also linked to a specific building: it began in a building constructed at the start of the 19th century and extended shortly after 1900. The estate of La Grange is part of the area's earlier history: from 1126, Premonstratensians had the estate built, with its extensive rights and lands. A mill mentioned in 1141 required the inhabitants of La Coudre, Cuarnens and the Vallée to have their grain milled there.

Protected buildings and traces of history

In Cuarnens, protection ranges from individual architectural features to entire buildings. At the Maison paysanne at Rue du Temple 12, two 15th-century window surrounds are protected as historic monuments. The entire buildings are protected at the Maison de maître at Rue du Château 4 and the Eglise reformee (ancien Saint-Didier) at Rue du Temple 6. At the Cure at Rue du Temple 9, the exterior is protected, while its unclassified parts are listed in the inventory. The present-day temple in Cuarnens was built between 1733 and 1737.

The surviving portal of the Château de la Grange stands amid the meadows as a remnant of the former estate. It is dated 1637 and is protected in its entirety. These different examples give an impression of how individual architectural features, entire buildings and historic estates are reflected in the village's history.

Walks, hiking and cycling

In Cuarnens, you can take walks through the village and surrounding forests. The Pierre Pendue is considered a glacial erratic of the Pied du Jura. Local legend has it that at midnight on Christmas Eve, it turns around on the spot—a distinctive story associated with this named erratic. The L'Isle - Cossonay-gare route is designated as a hiking trail.

There are also different cycling routes to choose from: the “Boucle au départ de Cossonay – Entre terroir et histoire” e-bike loop starts in Cossonay. The Du Pied du Jura au Léman route takes cyclists to Cuarnens via local signposts. The two descriptions therefore differ in whether Cossonay is named as the starting point or the signposting leads to Cuarnens.

Getting there

The MBC line 750 connects Cossonay-Penthalaz and Mont-la-Ville and continues to Le Pont. If you plan to use this connection for your trip, check the timetable before travelling. This lets you combine the village's history, walks and routes with the travel plans that suit your stay.

Discover more destinations: Aubonne, Ecublens Vd, Morges, Féchy, Préverenges, Aclens, L'isle Vd, Saint-Livres

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