Cuarnens is best understood through its architectural and village history: protected window surrounds, an 18th-century temple and the Venoge each tell a different chapter of the place. There are also traces of an economy shaped by agriculture, as well as walks through the village and surrounding forests. If you are considering Cuarnens as a travel destination, you can plan your stay around these themes and explore historic buildings, river scenery and walking routes.
The Venoge and the Village Landscape
The Venoge shaped Cuarnens’s development. Imposing houses on both sides of the river give the village the picturesque character of a typical farming community. The alluvial plain, shaped by a bend in the river, also plays a key role in the structure of the village landscape. Here, the river, buildings and village layout are all connected. Along the Venoge, up to four waterwheels once powered various sawmills, forges and mills. The river is therefore both part of the landscape and a trace of work carried out in the past. Cuarnens lies at the foot of the Jura, on the road from Cossonay to the Vallée de Joux.
Protected Buildings and Château de la Grange
The protected buildings differ in age and scope of protection. At Rue du Temple 12, the Maison paysanne has two 15th-century window surrounds that are protected as historic monuments. At Rue du Château 4, the Maison de maître is protected in its entirety. The same applies to the Eglise réformée (ancien Saint-Didier) at Rue du Temple 6. At the Cure at Rue du Temple 9, the exterior is protected; unclassified parts are listed in the inventory. Thus, individual historic architectural features, an entire house, an entire church and the exterior of another building are all protected in different ways.
The present-day temple in Cuarnens was built between 1733 and 1737. The portal of the former Château de la Grange dates from 1637 and is protected in its entirety. It is a surviving remnant of the former estate, standing amid the meadows. Near the church is the château, surrounded by a large park enclosed by a stone wall and containing a French garden.
Agriculture and the History of Work
Agricultural production has long shaped Cuarnens’s local economy. From 1126, Premonstratensians had the La Grange estate built here, endowing it with extensive rights and lands. A mill mentioned in 1141 required residents of La Coudre, Cuarnens and the Vallée to have their grain milled there. The pre-industrial Moulin-Dessus complex stood on an arm of the Venoge and comprised a mill and a sawmill from the 17th century until the middle of the 20th century. Cheese-making began in a building erected at the start of the 19th century, which was expanded shortly after 1900. Mills, waterwheels and cheese-making point to different forms of work that shaped Cuarnens over several centuries.
Walks and Routes
In Cuarnens, you can enjoy walks through the village and surrounding forests. The Pierre Pendue is described as a glacial erratic from the Pied du Jura. According to local legend, the boulder turns around on itself at midnight on Christmas Eve. Its geological classification and the legend offer two different ways of interpreting the site: one describes it as a glacial erratic, while the other recounts a local tradition.
For the routes mentioned, it is worth distinguishing their starting points and their connection to the village. The L’Isle–Cossonay-gare route is designated as a hike. The “Boucle au départ de Cossonay – Entre terroir et histoire” e-bike loop starts in Cossonay. This is different from the Du Pied du Jura au Léman route, which guides cyclists to Cuarnens via local signposts. You can therefore identify the different tours by their designated starting points and their connection to Cuarnens.
Getting There
MBC route 750 runs between Cossonay-Penthalaz and Mont-la-Ville and continues on to Le Pont. If you want to coordinate your arrival with this connection, check the timetable before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, Ecublens Vd, Echichens, Tolochenaz, Clarmont, Denens, Saint-Livres, Allaman.
Return to the main travel overview: Morges.
