Three-hour hike through the forest and its gorges with hidden waterfalls

Where does the water from Romainmôtier flow? Where does the water from La Sarraz flow? At the beginning of this hike we are on the North Sea side, i.e. the Atlantic, the second part of the hike is on the Mediterranean side. In La Sarraz or at the hill of Entreroches is the watershed.

Medieval Romainmôtier with its famous monastery church is at the start of the hike through gorges and to waterfalls. "Romanum monasterum", first mentioned in the 6th century, is one of the earliest monastic settlements in Switzerland. And one of the most important ones at that. The abbey church was built around the year 1000 according to the plans of the church of Cluny. Next to the church stands the "House of the Prior", which dates from the 13th century. After extensive restoration, it is available for parties and banquets with its magnificent halls, large fireplaces, coffered ceilings and wall paintings.

From Romainmôtier, the trail follows the Canal du Nozon to Croy. At the southern end of the village, we continue to follow the Nozon towards the Gorges du Nozon. We dive into a dreamy landscape and follow the path along the increasingly foaming water that washes around the moss-covered rocks. Be careful: when it rains, the steps on the steep descent can be quite slippery. The crowning glory of the first section of the trail is the magical waterfall "Cascade du Dard" in the middle of the forest. We marvel and linger!

Sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right side of the stream, we follow the Nozon until the turnoff to Ferreyres, below the "Bec à l'Aigle". After the unexpected clearing La Cressonnière, we turn right again into a narrow forest valley and up to the hamlet of Ferreyres.

The descent to the second highlight follows, again paradisiacal waterfalls, at the "Tine de Conflens", where the waters of the rivers Veyron and Venoge join. The last stage leads along the river to La Sarraz. The small town, situated high on a rocky ridge, scores with its medieval castle and the horse museum. If you want to visit the majestic castle at your destination La Sarraz, you should find out about the opening hours beforehand. In the castle barn there is the interesting horse museum on the subjects of stagecoaches, horse professions, the army, bridles, saddles, toys and art.

Realised by Roland Baumgartner
www.bgr.ch

Pictures: Office du Tourisme de Romainmôtier


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Arrival:
Train from Lausanne to Croy-Romainmôtier, short distance bus to Romainmôtier, église.

Another tip:
La Sarraz: The centre of the world, "Le Milieu du monde", not far from the castle. From the pond, the water flows on one side towards the North Sea and on the other with the Rhone into the Mediterranean.

Canal d'Entreroches: It was precisely this watershed that people once wanted to make navigable; the romantic stretch of canal between Entreroches and Eclépens can be visited.