Orbe reveals itself through traces of its history and paths into nature. Historically, the settlement developed on both sides of the Orbe River. A round tower and a square tower remain from the fortress; walking paths also lead through the historic centre and from the centre to the river. Here, you can encounter both the city’s architectural heritage and topics such as local biodiversity.
Discover history on two walking routes
Two signposted routes, marked in yellow and red, lead through the historic centre and explore Orbe’s history and culture. The yellow circular route, “Orbe and Its Past”, starts at the market square and takes you past the city’s sights on a 45-minute walk. The red historic route also starts at the market square. It takes about an hour and a half, passes important historic buildings and ends at Chemin des Présidents in the lower part of town. The different walking times give you a practical guide when planning a shorter or longer stroll through the centre.
One distinctive landmark is the round tower, which is open to the public year-round. Together with the castle esplanade, it offers sweeping views of the Jura and the Alps. The round and square towers are the only surviving remains of Orbe’s fortress. The church also tells the story of earlier building phases: it was built on the site of a 12th-century chapel and, despite its eventful history, today displays a harmonious stylistic unity.
At the Roman mosaics of Boscéaz, the art itself takes centre stage. They are considered the finest collection of Roman mosaics north of the Alps. The Grande Abbaye offers a different historical note: it housed the world’s first orthopaedic facility. Together, these places show the many ways Orbe’s past can be seen—in preserved buildings, in art and in the history of how individual buildings have been used.
From the river to nature trails
The “Nature in the City” walk leads from the centre to the river and shares information about local biodiversity. It introduces insect hotels, beavers and wild plants in a playful way. This offers a different perspective on Orbe than the historic walking routes: here, the focus is on the habitats and species you may encounter along the way.
The landscape continues into the Les Gorges de l’Orbe gorge. A nature reserve has protected the gorge and its flora since 1970. A longer hike along a woodland stream leads to Le Day; a route through the gorge eventually reaches the Saut du Day waterfall. The entrance to the gorge is about two kilometres from Orbe railway station. On the “Montcherand – Passerelle bleue” circular route, you explore both banks of the Orbe. The section on the right bank is marked with white-red-white hiking blazes and is intended for experienced hikers.
Coffee, wine and more to discover
At the Caveau of the Musée d’Orbe, visitors can watch coffee being roasted. Urb’escape combines outdoor activity with local history: the outdoor escape game introduces Orbe’s medieval history. Both experiences touch on themes you may also encounter while walking through the centre, but each offers its own perspective.
Those interested in wine can follow a dedicated route through the vineyards of the Côtes de l’Orbe. This wine tourism walk links Orbe with the wine-growing village of Arnex-sur-Orbe and passes through the small vineyards of Creux de Villars and Lavaux Vully. It showcases wines from around twenty winemakers, including characterful red grape varieties and “King Chasselas”. PostBus connections between Orbe and Agiez or Arnex-sur-Orbe can shorten the walk; check the timetable before travelling. Orbe is also the starting point for a regional cycling route: SwitzerlandMobility Route 487 passes through wine-growing villages, vineyards, forests and river landscapes, including along the Orbe near Les Clées.
More activities in Orbe
Orbe’s swimming pool has a 33-metre pool, diving boards at one and three metres, a paddling pool and a water slide. As facilities may change after renovations, it is worth checking the latest information before your visit. Urba Kids is an indoor play centre covering more than 1,300 m² for children up to the age of twelve. Age-appropriate attractions include bouncy castles, trampolines, electric mini cars, ball pits and slides. Alongside historic walks and nature trails, there are also activities with a very different focus.
Discover more destinations: Oron, Lavaux, Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut, Broye-Vully, Aubonne, Aigle, Yverdon, La Vallée
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