Medieval architecture, a foundation dedicated to literature and trails from the village into the Jura give Montricher several themes to explore. There is also an insight into Gruyère production. If you are looking for somewhere to stay, start by asking what matters most: culture, food or hiking? The following places and routes show how these interests differ on the ground.
Architectural history between church and castle
A surviving tower from Montricher’s outer wall serves as the bell tower of the medieval church, which dates from the early 15th century; the round tower is considered unique in the canton. The castle’s history also goes back a long way: Rodolphe, son of Adalbert II of Grandson, built Montricher Castle in 1049. Today, only a few remains of the medieval castle survive. The church and castle therefore represent different milestones in the town’s history.
Literature and cheesemaking
The Fondation Jan Michalski is dedicated entirely to literature. Its cultural space hosts changing exhibitions; check the latest information for the current programme. The library is free and open to everyone as a place to read and work, and offers a broad overview of modern and contemporary literature. If you plan to visit the library, check the visitor guidelines before setting out.
At La Fromagerie Gourmande, a tour takes you through every step of making Gruyère AOP. A glazed demonstration area shows how the cheese is made, and the tour also includes a tasting of a piece of Gruyère. So the focus is not just on the finished product, but on how it is made. As reservation arrangements may change, check them before your visit.
Hikes with different waypoints
The «Au sommet du Jura suisse» hike passes through forests and wooded pastures as it descends to Montricher village railway station, at an altitude of 750 metres. The «Col du Mollendruz – Montricher» route has different waypoints: it leads to the Croix de Châtel viewpoint, passes the Buvette de Châtel and then descends through the forest to Montricher. The two descriptions therefore differ mainly in their waypoints and destinations.
Mont Tendre is described as the highest peak in the Swiss Jura and is connected to Montricher by hiking trails. The Buvette du Mont Tendre is located on SwitzerlandMobility national route No. 5, the «Chemin des Crêtes du Jura». A road leads from Montricher village at the foot of the Jura to the buvette; from there, it is about a 15-minute walk to the highest point in the Swiss Jura. The buvette serves Alpine dishes made with local products, prepared exclusively over a wood fire. Its opening times may vary by season, and road and hiking conditions can also change.
Jura scenery and getting there
The Parc naturel régional du Jura vaudois includes the area around Montricher. The landscape is characterised by wooded foothills of the Jura Mountains, extensive pastures, dense forests and karst terrain. Hiking trails in the area range from easy walks to challenging climbs, some leading to elevated viewpoints. If you are considering an easier or more demanding hike, you can take this range into account when planning.
For travel, the MBC line 742 from Bière to Montricher is a useful option: it serves the Fondation Jan Michalski directly from Monday to Friday. Check the timetable before travelling, as transport arrangements may change.
Discover more destinations: Morges, Saint-Livres, Aubonne, Echichens, Denens, Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, Saint-Sulpice, Montherod.
Back to the main travel overview: Morges.
