Avenches – Bois de Châtel – Avenches

Starting from the tourist office, this 10km hike takes you to discover the Roman site of Aventicum, passing by the masterly amphitheatre and the Roman museum overlooking it, the Grange des Dîmes temple, the Cigognier sanctuary and the Selley theatre. The small paths then lead you to the thermal baths and then to the Porte de l’Est where you can admire the view of Avenches, Lake Morat and Vully from the Tour de la Tornallaz before heading towards the village of Donatyre. The Romanesque chapel dating from the 11th century is worth a stop. The coolness of the Bois de Châtel forest will then invite you to discover forest species thanks to QR-Codes scattered along a marked out route. The Refuge de la Reine Berthe offers a magnificent view of Avenches and a pleasant stop for a picnic before heading back through the undergrowth towards Oleyres before descending to Avenches through the fields.

For a slightly shorter route (8.3 km), it is possible to go up towards Donatyre until after the Théâtre du Selley.