Orbe brings Roman archaeology together with a historic town center and a range of ways to explore on foot. The mosaics of Boscéaz, the old town’s buildings and the hiking route through the Gorge of Orbe each offer a different focus. When planning your trip, it’s worth distinguishing the shorter town walks from the longer hike.
Roman Mosaics of Boscéaz
At the site of the Roman villa of Boscéaz, Mosaic 9 depicts Ulysses exposing Achilles on the island of Skyros. A total of eight mosaics are displayed on site in pavilions. In the reception pavilion, a model of the living quarters and a multimedia animation offer further insight into the complex. Guided tours of the Roman mosaics are available by prior request in French, German or English.
You can also plan your journey in different ways. From Orbe railway station, take the PostBus to Montchoisi; from there, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the villa. The described connection from Chavornay involves taking the Orbe–Chavornay train to Orbe station, then the PostBus to Montchoisi and walking along Route du Signal. Check connections and bus numbers before departure. By car, reach the reception pavilion via exit 3, Orbe, on the A9; free parking is available in front of it.
Explore the Old Town on Foot
There are two walks of different lengths to choose from in the town center. The yellow walk, “Balade à travers Orbe et son passé – Circuit jaune,” starts at Place du Marché and takes 45 minutes. The red walk of the same name, with the addition “Circuit rouge,” is an approximately one-and-a-half-hour route on foot past the city’s main historic buildings. You can tailor your time in the old town to a shorter walk or allow more time for the historic sights.
The historic town center includes the 18th-century Hôtel de Ville, the late Gothic Reformed 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, you can look out over the rooftops of Orbe and the Orbe Plain. If you’re interested in changing art exhibitions, Galerie Zwahlen offers another cultural stop: it is housed in a former winegrower’s home and hosts around six exhibitions a year.
Town Walk or Longer Hike?
The Gorge of Orbe is a considerably longer option than the walks in the center: the route connects Vallorbe and Orbe, covers 17 kilometers and takes about four hours and 20 minutes on foot. It passes through a nature reserve that has protected the site and its flora since 1970; local trail conditions may vary. For the full hike, it is recommended that you 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 arrangements before your trip. This gives you three clearly different time options: a 45-minute circuit, a town route of about an hour and a half, and a hike of just over four hours.
Another nature-focused option is the educational biotope of Pré-Genevois, an urban green space in Orbe for environmental learning in nature. Plantings, facilities and maintenance there promote the development of biodiversity. The biotope and the Gorge route appeal to different interests: environmental learning in an urban green space on the one hand, and a longer hike through a protected area on the other.
Wine, Coffee and More
Côtes de l’Orbe is a wider wine region and should not be confused with the offerings in the town center. It covers 170 hectares and around 20 winegrowing villages. The dry climate of the vineyards is well suited to Gamay and Pinot Noir; the region offers cellar tastings and village wine events. A panoramic vineyard walk leads from the large winegrowing village of Arnex-sur-Orbe through the smaller vineyards of Creux de Villars and Lavaux Vully, and includes wines from around 20 winemakers. This is a distinct regional theme to consider when planning your trip, alongside the old town and the mosaics.
Another tasting option is a coffee-roasting demonstration in Orbe. It uses a traditional roaster from 1920; the demonstration includes freshly roasted coffee to try and a small bag to take home. For a possible swimming break, Piscine d’Orbe has a 33-meter pool for swimmers and non-swimmers, diving boards at one- and three-meter heights, a paddling pool and a slide. Check the current opening dates before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Vallorbe, Les Rasses, Montagny-Près-Yverdon, Giez Vd, Vaulion, Grandson, Villars-Burquin and Donneloye.
For the wider travel overview: Northern Vaud Jura.
