Did you know that you can experience ancient Roman history in Switzerland? In the village of Avenches near the French border, Roman ruins are still visible.
Called Aventicum in Roman times, this small town was once the capital of the Helvetic Empire. Arguably known as the “birthplace of Switzerland,” the site was occupied by Helvitians of Celtic descent before the Romans conquered it in the 1st century BC.
Visit this beautiful historic town and spend the day discovering ancient Roman history amid the stunning countryside of the canton of Vaud.
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How to Get to Avenches, Switzerland
Located 161 kilometers from Zurich and 42 kilometers from Bern, Avenches is an easy day trip from both cities. You can go by car, train or bus. Operated by Swiss Railways, the train from Zurich to Avenches departs from Zurich HB and arrives in Avenches in approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes and includes a layover time of around 40 minutes.
The bus to Avenches leaves from Zurich Bus Station and arrives in Avenches in about 3 hours and 47 minutes. By car, the journey takes 1 hour and 39 minutes via A1.
Operated by Swiss Railways and BLS AG, the train from Bern arrives in Avenches in 1 hour and 16 minutes with an average layover of 27 minutes. You can drive to Avenches from Bern in 29 minutes via A1.
If you’re coming from abroad and want to go straight to Avenches, Swiss Railways and BLS AG operate train service from Zurich Airport (ARH) that departs from Zurich Flughafen. The journey takes around 2 hours and 49 minutes with an average layover of 40 minutes.
Things to See & Do in Avenches, Switzerland
Roman Amphitheatre
One of the most intriguing sites to visit in Avenches is the Roman amphitheater. It was built during the 2nd century AD in two stages with 31 rows that could accommodate up to 16,000 spectators. From this, we can surmise that Aventicum was once a fairly large city.
After the invasion of Germanic tribes known as the Alemanni during the 3rd century, the amphitheater was abandoned. Its stones were hauled away and used in other constructions. What you’ll see today is mostly a reconstruction.
The arena where the spectacles took place is oval-shaped. Most of the spectacles involved death and included executions, gladiators, and animals on staged hunts. Artistic performances were held at the nearby Roman theater.
These days, the amphitheater is used for operas, festivals, and military performances. No entrance fee is charged to visit the site and you’re allowed to go down to the arena.
Roman Museum of Avenches
Learn all about the former capital of Helvetica at the Roman Museum of Avenches. Appropriately housed in a fortified medieval tower, it overlooks the Roman amphitheater.
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The museum is small with only two rooms, but the exceptional heritage of Avenches is displayed through fascinating artifacts including mosaics and works of art that tell the story of Roman Aventicum and the everyday life of the Helvetti. One of the most intriguing pieces in the collection is a golden bust of Emperor Marc-Aurèle found in 1939.
The museum is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Avenches Castle
The public and historic Avenches Castle was built during the 13th century by the bishops of Lausanne who served as the ancient capital’s suzerains. It was renovated and extended in the 15th century during the Bernese reign. The striking Renaissance-style facade was added at that time and is now considered one of Switzerland’s most remarkable examples of Renaissance architecture.
At one time, the building served as a prison. Today, it accommodates residences, classrooms, offices, a library, a theatre, and an art gallery. It provides a beautiful and historic setting for artists to display their works throughout the year.
Musée romain de Vallon
The Musée romain de Vallon is located on a Roman archaeological site six kilometers outside the old city on the site of the Gallo-Roman villa in Vallon. The museum presents Switzerland’s Roman heritage through mural paintings, mosaics, and various artifacts from the 1st to the 3rd centuries.
The most noteworthy displays are the “Bacchus and Ariane” and “Venatio” mosaics discovered in 1985 and 1989.
The museum charges an entrance fee and is open every day but Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 pm to 7 pm. Information is presented in English, German, French, and Italian.
Roman Theater of Selley
The Roman Theater of Selley was built at the start of the 2nd century AD. One of the largest structures of its kind, it could accommodate 12,000 spectators. Both the orchestra and the tiered seating are semicircular. The stage building extends onto the exterior of the facade wall and the stage itself is a wooden platform connected to the orchestra.
The structure was modified during the Gallo-Roman age, and it was used as a fortified retreat with a defense ditch until the mid-4th century.
East Gate & Tornallaz Tower
The East Gate and the Tornallaz Tower are part of the 5-kilometer-long wall that encircled Aventicum. The construction of the wall was started by the Flavian emperors between 70 and 80 AD. The hundreds of thousands of cubed stones used in its construction were brought by barge from the Jura. The wall’s purpose was not military but was used to establish the status of the old city.
The East Gate is the last remaining entrance out of the four that were used to enter the city. It was once 7 meters in height and featured 73 towers along the wall’s perimeter. The Tornallaz Tower west of the East Gate is the only remaining tower. Both were reconstructed between 1854 and 1935.
It’s possible to climb the sets of spiral steps to the wall and then to the top of the Tornallz Tower where you’ll have an excellent view of Avenches.
Is Avenches, Switzerland Worth Visiting?
While most visitors to Switzerland opt to visit cities like Zurich or Basel or exclusive ski resorts such as Verbier and Zermatt, Avenches is worth visiting for its Roman ruins and local flavor.
Courtesy of Wikimedia for the image header.
