Avenches is linked to the Roman city of Aventicum, while the medieval town also shapes the character of the place. Visible monuments, archaeological walks and museums sit alongside the old town. The Swiss National Stud Farm and the Institut Équestre National d’Avenches (IENA) add equestrian culture to the mix. When planning your visit, it is worth first considering whether you want to focus mainly on Roman sites, local history, walks or equestrian activities.
Roman Aventicum and its monuments
Avenches is situated on an isolated hill at the southern edge of the Broye plain, southwest of Lake Murten. The visible Roman remains include the amphitheatre; the Roman Museum preserves archaeological artefacts. The Roman arenas of Avenches date from the early 2nd century AD. The theatre could accommodate almost 12,000 spectators and was one of the largest structures of its kind in Roman Gaul.
At the eastern entrance to the amphitheatre stands a medieval defensive tower dating from the 11th century, which now houses the Roman Museum. The sanctuaries also reveal different aspects of the ancient town: the Temple of the Grange des Dîmes closely combines local Helvetian traditions with Roman forms. Because of its exceptional size, the Sanctuary of Cigognier was the largest religious building in the Roman city.
You can spend half a day visiting the archaeological sites along the Aventicum archaeological trail. The marked route is freely accessible; the visible monuments can be visited year-round and have information panels in three languages. Stereoscopes and an app recreate the former scale of the buildings along the Aventicum trail. The Aventicum Museum complements the visit with interactive exhibitions and guided tours about the history of the capital of Roman Helvetia.
Medieval old town and walks
The old town features defensive towers, cobbled streets, arcades and picturesque gardens in places. Its buildings date from the 11th century onwards. The Château d’Avenches was built in the 13th century and later expanded; its distinctive keep has been preserved. The area’s history has several layers: the surrounding region is strongly agricultural in character, and Avenches itself historically had an agricultural character.
The free historical tour “La Vieille Ville d’Avenches – Parcours Historique” starts in front of the tourist office at Place de l’Église. The historical walk to Aventicum can also be done by bicycle. Another perspective is offered by the “Avenches–Morat via Villarepos” hike: it also starts at Place de l’Église in the centre, first leads to the Roman archaeological site of Avenches, and then continues through fields towards Morat. This offers two distinct options: exploring the town and following a route towards Morat.
Horses, the stud farm and events
The Swiss National Stud Farm is freely accessible year-round. Its educational trail covers the stud farm’s work, the work of its craftspeople, and the lives of its horses, donkeys and storks. Horse training sessions in the courtyard or riding hall are open to the public. Storks are easy to spot at the National Stud Farm; Avenches is home to almost 30 breeding pairs of storks each year, which raise their young on the shores of Lake Murten.
IENA is open to the general public and horse enthusiasts. Its grounds cover 142 hectares and include facilities for competitions, training and the horses’ recreation. Races are held every year at IENA’s racetrack. The Roman amphitheatre is also used today for festivals and events. Annual festivals in Avenches include Avenches Tattoo and Avenches Openair; check the dates if attending a festival is part of your plans.
Getting to Avenches and accommodation
You can reach the Aventicum Museum by train or bus to the Avenches gare stop; from there, it is a ten-minute walk. Bus routes connect Avenches with Fribourg, Domdidier, Cudrefin and Portalban. The PubliCar service is also available throughout the Broye-Vully district. Check the timetables for your planned day of travel.
If you are looking for a hotel in Avenches, your planned focus can help guide your choice: for Roman history, the archaeological trail, amphitheatre and museums are the main attractions; for a different itinerary, consider walks through the old town, the National Stud Farm or IENA.
For the broader travel overview: Avenches.
