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Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Morges Castle

Situated at the heart of the small but lively and very pretty wine-growing town of Morges, the four towers of Morges Castle stand in front of the splendid backdrop of Mont-Blanc and Lake Geneva.

Founded by Louis of Savoy in 1286 as a city in a pasture where gallows previously stood, a castle was built to protect the city, which quickly developed into an administrative and market center as well as a hub for transporting goods by land and sea.

This mighty medieval castle has dominated the area since the 13th century. It became a Museum of Military History in 1925.

Since May 2016 the Castle housed Paderewski’s Museum which is dedicated to the renowned Polish pianist and Statesman.

Here are the Top 10 remarkable facts about Morges Castle

1. It Houses the Vaud Military Museum

The Vaud Military Museum’s main focus is the locals from the region of Lake Geneva who went into Foreign Service and military writers.

It is divided into two, the Waldensian Museum which is more of a Military History Museum. The exhibition guides its visitors through 350 years of military history, displays Military uniforms of the Vaud Militia, and introduces them to its most famous characters like Major Davel and General Gaussian.

Major Davel, was a Swiss soldier and patriot of Vaud. He was sentenced to death and beheaded for calling for Vaud’s independence from the Bern authorities.

2. Morges Castle is a Swiss heritage site of national significance

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The Morges Castle is recognized as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The Swiss heritage site of national significance is a register of cultural property in Switzerland. 

The register contains both mobile and immobile items of cultural property including old towns, quarters, squares, villages, sacral buildings, houses, castles, bridges, monuments, archaeological sites, and collections. Its entries are classified into two groups: those of national significance (class A) and those of regional significance (class B). 

3. It was founded by Louis of Savoy

The Castle was founded by Louis of Savoy in 1286. He found a city in a pasture where gallows previously stood. A castle was built to protect the city, which quickly developed into an administrative and market center as well as a hub for transporting goods by land and sea.

Today it is home to several Museums, including the Vaud Military Museum which is divided into two, the Artillery and Waldensian Museums, the Police Museum, the Museum of Historical Figurines, the Gendarmerie Museum, the Foreign Service Room, and the Paderewski Museum.

4. Morges Castle is Home to several Museums

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The castle is located at the heart of the small but lively and very pretty wine-growing town of Morges built in 1286 by Louis of Savoy. It is an excellent example of the “carré Savoyard”, a square fortress that is typical of medieval Savoy.

Built to protect the town in the Middle Ages, Morges Castle is now an important cultural and recreational attraction with five museums under its roof: the Military Museum, Figurine Museum, Artillery Museum, Police Museum, and Paderewski Museum.

All these Museums are articulate and will take you back more than 350 years back with an extraordinary collection of to-scale models of Swiss artillery as well as technical drawings and prints which provide insight into the many changes the Swiss artillery experienced since the Burgundian Wars.

5. Visit the Swiss Museum of Historical Figurines

 In this Museum visitors get to see the 10,000 figurines from Raoul  Gérard’s magnificent collection inhabiting 50 dioramas depicting historical events from Antiquity to the Napoleonic Wars. The collection was put together in the 20th century.

The little figures are made of tins, lead, and antimony. The figures are impressive with a setting that’s created to tell their story. This includes a collection of historic battlefield reconstitutions, with figurines dressed in warrior and military uniforms. Raoul Gerard put the collection together.

6. Explore the Vineyards of Morges

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Wine is an important industry on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Vineyards also provide some of the most beautiful backdrops to cruising on the lake or traveling on its northern shores by train, car, bicycle, or hiking.

Morges is a wine appellation of La Côte, a sub-region of Vaud in western Switzerland. It is centered around the town of the same name, a short distance to the west of Lausanne on the northern shore of Lake Geneva.

The vineyards of the Morges region are characterized by authentic villages, cellars, and colorful markets. Visitors can take a walk down the villages and stop at several tasting spots at the winemakers of Morges.

7. Listen to Paderewski’s Music at the Paderewski Museum

Ignace Paderewski Museum was opened in 2016. Though it is a one-room exhibition, it is dedicated to the famous Polish Pianist and Statesman.

Paderewski was a Polish pianist and composer who became a spokesman for Polish independence. In 1919, he was the new nation’s Prime Minister and foreign minister during which he signed the Treaty of Â鶹APP, which ended World War 1.

The room tells the Story of Paderewski from a Musician to a politician, trying to help the fate of the Polish nation from the shores of Lake Geneva. It is set nicely with a few places to sit and listen to Paderewski’s music on earphones. Here, informative panels explain why he was an important cultural figure of his era.

8. Relax at Lake Geneva Park

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Located in the heart of the Lake Geneva area, the town of Morges has established a reputation as an attractive place to live. It offers numerous amenities and leisure activities.

The quality of its infrastructure, the many international schools, and the broad diversity of sports and cultural events make this a very dynamic region.

Located between the Swiss Alps, Lake Geneva, and the town center of Morges, the region stands out in terms of residential opportunities and high-quality teaching facilities. Numerous cultural and sports activities are on offer in the immediate vicinity of Lake Geneva Park.

The Lake Geneva Park buildings integrate naturally into their surrounding environment while elegantly exemplifying contemporary architecture.

9. Enjoy a Picnic at Parc de Independence

Near the castle and, most of all, Lake Geneva, the Parc de l’Indépendance in Morges is the perfect place for a peaceful stroll. In the spring, it is adorned with over 100,000 flowers for the Tulip Festival, a unique event in Switzerland.

If you want to enjoy the flowers for free, the Parc de independence is the ideal place to visit. This place offers astonishing scenery and ambiance, with many benches along the way that are perfect for a picnic day. There are also art sculptures on the ground to add an extra level of cultural dimension.

The Parc de independence is an ideal oasis for family walks, and it has over 50 species of trees, horse chestnut trees planted back in 1750. It is the ideal place for a relaxing stroll. 

10. Take a stroll to Audrey Hepburn’s Last Home in Morges

Taking a stroll to find Audrey Hepburn’s last home is one of the best experiences. Audrey lived in the beautiful small village of Tolochenaz, that’s only five minutes away from Morges.

The town hall in Morges is another special place in Audrey’s life. This is where she got married. The next stop is the church of Tolochenaz, where her funeral ceremony was conducted on 24th January 1993.