N°01 Along the waterway

Description

Pictogramme Randonée
Discover the charm of the Moudon countryside on this signposted walk. From leafy forests to picturesque villages, there is no shortage of attractions. Then return to the valley as far as Moudon, following the banks of the river Broye, a refuge for wildlife.

This very pretty hike is considered easy and therefore accessible to most hikers. It will allow them to discover the richness and diversity of the region's landscapes. 

Start at the car park of the Moudon train station and then follow the official signposts and its yellow "walking tourism" signs in the direction of Chavannes-sur-Moudon. Follow the small road for a few meters, then take a bridge to cross the Broye. 

You will get to a nice picnic area, which is the starting point for the ascent through the forest. In less than an hour you reach the village of Chavannes-sur-Moudon. Discover the chapel of Notre-Dame dating from the 13th century, and admire the panorama of the Alps and the Jura heights. 

The walk then takes you in the direction of Bressonnaz on the "Chemin de la Vieille Route". Your path runs along the forest, then joins the main road and leads you to the restaurant in this waterside hamlet. 

From there, you join the river Broye below and discover on your left the molasse cliffs, typical geological heritage of the region.

Point of interest

 

1.  Eglise Saint-Etienne

Noted for its splendid Gothic architecture and painted adornment, the church has 16th-century choir stalls and the oldest organ in the canton (1764). The church is a stopover point of the Via Jacobi 4 leading pilgrims to Saint James of Compostela.

2.  Chapelle Notre-Dame (Chavannes-sur-Moudon)

This beautiful chapel dates from the 13th century. After the Reformation, the west wall of the nave was rebuilt and a new framework was put in place, followed by the installation of the present window. As a large part of the town is situated higher than the chapel, a particularly high bell tower was built in 1776, so that everyone could read the time.

3.  La Broye

The river Broye (79 km long) runs through Moudon, taking its source in the Fribourg Pre-Alps and reaching as far as Lake Neuchâtel. It has long shaped the natural landscape of the region, giving the valley its name. It has a large number of tributaries, including the Carrouge, the Bressonne and the Mérine.

4.  Falaises de molasse

The subsoil of the Moudon region is essentially composed of marine molasses from the Tertiary era. It is sand mixed with green minerals which over the millennia have been compacted under the weight of sediments. Along the Broye River and under the Upper Town, one can admire these cliffs and their clearly recognisable strata.
  • Distance : 8Km
  • Length : 2h45
  • Start : Moudon, Train station
  • End : Moudon, Train station
  • Difficulty :
  • Height difference : +170m
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