Aclens brings together village history, winegrowing and the Venoge, which forms part of its eastern municipal boundary. The municipality lies mostly on a plateau west of the Gros de Vaud and the Venoge. The river forms part of the eastern municipal boundary; at 406 metres, it is also the municipality’s lowest point. Agriculture and winegrowing remain part of local life, and Aclens has preserved its village character. A walk through the vineyards is suggested as a way to discover the area. You could continue your outing in the cellars of local winegrowers.
Chapel, mill and traces of the past
The chapel of Aclens was built around 1740. It was enlarged and fitted with a bell tower in 1828, and was listed as a historic monument in 1955. These three dates mark its construction, a later structural change and its subsequent protected status. The sign of the Café de la Charrue at Rue du Village 2 is also protected: it has been listed as a historic monument since 15 March 1963. On a lower stretch of the Venoge lies the Moulin du Choc, which was already mentioned in the early 17th century.
The main settlement of Aclens appears to have originated before the 14th century. A major fire occurred in 1416. In the Middle Ages, the now-vanished village of Chibi was also part of the Aclens area; its parish church was located there. Chibi was abandoned because of a lack of water. At the end of the 14th century, Aclens was separated from the great barony of Cossonay. It was first a lordship of Challant and later one of Colombier. These different traces from the past offer several ways into the village’s history, rather than limiting it to a single building.
The coat of arms is another local emblem: on a blue field, it shows a golden beehive and a bordure divided into red and silver sections. The beehive symbolises the inhabitants’ work. The coat of arms thus combines a clear image with a statement about local livelihoods.
Events and the community oven
The Fanfare L’Avenir regularly holds concerts and other events in Aclens. The Vide-Greniers is another fixture in the village calendar: the market takes place every two years at the beginning of autumn on Rue du Village. Music by the fanfare is part of the event, while Les Z’Amis du Fournil offer pizza and other specialities at the market. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the specific date, as its biennial schedule means that the market does not take place every autumn.
The community oven is also part of local life. Aclens has the largest community oven in the canton of Vaud that is still in operation. Its use is reserved for residents of Aclens and costs CHF 100; check the local arrangements before making specific plans. Separately, the Les Z’Amis du Fournil association offers bread and other specialities several times a year. The oven and the association’s offerings are two distinct aspects of the same local baking tradition.
Planning your journey and stay
For travel, MBC connects Morges via Aclens with Cossonay-Ville or with Bussigny, gare sud. Postbuses serve Aclens regularly. The village is also close to several motorway and rail connections. Check the timetable for your chosen route when planning your journey; timetables may change. These transport links provide different options for getting there, without specifying a particular journey time or connection for your travel dates.
When choosing when to visit, you can start with your interests: the chapel, the Moulin du Choc and the history of Chibi represent different facets of local history, while the vineyards, agriculture and winegrowing offer another way to experience Aclens. If you would also like to attend a concert or the Vide-Greniers, check the date of the event. This lets you plan your trip around the things you most want to see or do, while checking the most suitable MBC or postbus connection for your journey.
Discover more destinations: Etoy, Chigny Vd, Clarmont, Montherod, Cuarnens, Allaman, Saint-Prex, Morges.
Back to the regional travel overview: Morges.
