A former defensive tower with loopholes, a 12th-century triumphal arch and vineyards along the Aubonne reveal three sides of Etoy: the history of the priory quarter, winegrowing and the rural surroundings.
Priory, church and château
Etoy’s origins may date back to the 12th century. A 1145 contract involving Ulrich de Stuie (Ulrich d’Etoy) on behalf of the priory is the earliest known document to mention the town. In 1177, the “Cella de Stoi,” the Priory of Etoy, appears among the benefices and possessions of the Congregation of the Great St Bernard. Etoy was originally associated with a priory belonging to this congregation.
The priory is one of the town’s oldest residential buildings; several historic monuments in the priory quarter are connected with the town’s history. Inside the quarter’s church is a 12th-century triumphal arch. Its bell tower was formerly a defensive tower with loopholes and houses, among other things, a bell dating from 1630. Its architecture thus brings together different periods without any single building having to tell the whole story of Etoy.
Etoy Château, a former priory with a park, is now a patrician house; its tower has disappeared. It belonged to the de Mestral family and was home to the family of writer Guy de Pourtalès for more than 50 years. Looking at the priory, church and château therefore offers several specific ways into the town’s history: early documents, surviving architectural features and later uses.
Winegrowing and rural character
Agriculture, winegrowing and fruit growing remain part of life in the town centre. Etoy has 53 hectares of vineyards; around a dozen winegrowers produce nearly 500,000 bottles of wine each year. The vineyards of La Châtaigneraie lie on the western edge of the municipality, along the Aubonne. The Chasselas from there comes from old vines, and the grapes are harvested by hand.
La Châtaigneraie accepts enquiries about wine tastings and vineyard visits. Make arrangements before your visit. Domaine de Joli Clos has a tasting room with panoramic views of Lake Geneva and Savoy. The fruit-growing and winemaking estate Domaine de la Romanèche also grows a wide variety of apples, pears and grapes. Together, these estates offer different insights into local agriculture—from working with old vines to growing fruit and grapes.
Walking route and getting there
The “Balade le long de l’Aubonne: Etoy-Allaman” walking route starts at the Hôtel Afterwork in Etoy, heads towards the forest and follows the edge of the woods along the Aubonne. Its stated starting point and route give the walk a specific connection to the landscape; check the latest route information before setting out.
The iLife City Centre is a ten-minute walk from Etoy railway station. Other ways to get there include the A1 motorway via the Aubonne exit and public transport on MBC route 724. Route 724 connects Morges, Etoy and Allaman and offers an onboard audio guide; the round trip with the audio guide takes about an hour on average. Check current connections before travelling, as transport conditions may change.
Activities for different time frames
Escape Etoy is a live escape game with three different rooms. The games are designed for groups of two to seven people and last 60 minutes. Scenarios include searching for treasure aboard a pirate ship. Scenarios and group formats may change, so check the current offerings before planning. The stated game duration is a useful guide when fitting activities into your day.
Public games are held at LaseRed every day; check availability before visiting. This means there are fun activities to choose from alongside the historical attractions and winegrowing.
Discover more destinations: Denens, L'isle Vd, Saint-Saphorin-sur-Morges, Allaman, Lavigny, Aclens, Morges, FĂ©chy
Go to the main travel overview: Morges.
