Avenches

Avenches is a locality and a common Suisse of the Canton of Vaud, located in the District of Avenches, of which it is the Chef-lieu.

Geography

Avenches (480m) is located on a hill isolated on the southern part from the plain from the Broye, with 12km in the North-West of Freiburg.
The territory of the commune includes/understands part of the plain, intensively cultivated, Broye, thus some hills bordering the plain in the south. The commune reaches the Broye in the North-West and the Arbogne also runs out through the commune. In north, Avenches has a bank of 1.5km on the Lac of Morat, until the Chandon which delimits the commune in the east. To the south, the commune extends on hills to the village from Donatyre. The village of Donatyre belongs to the commune of Avenches, partly before 2006, and entirely since 2006 following the fusion of the communes of Avenches and Donatyre. The common neighbors of Avenches are Faoug, Villarepos (is), Misery-Courtion, Oleyres (southern), Domdidier (western), Saint-Aubin, Villars-the-Large (north-western), Montmagny and Constantine (northern).
In 1997, the territory consisted of 14% of built-up areas, of 16% of forest zones, 69% of agricultural zones, and a little less than unproductive ground 1%.

Population

With 2699 inhabitants (at the end of 2004) Avenches belongs to the common averages of the Canton of Vaud. The population of Avenches rose with 1637 inhabitants in 1850, then 1952 inhabitants in 1900. After the number of inhabitants fell up to 1565 (- 20%) in 1941, a significant increase in population was since then recorded, in particular during the years 1960. The official language is French, spoken by 73.4% about the population, 12.9% of the population speaks German and 6.0% Portuguese (2000). The population is with a little more than 45% Protestant woman and a little less than 45% catholic (2000).

Tourism

The Roman site

Aventicum was the Roman Swiss capital. Aventicum is one of the most important archeological sites of Switzerland, the Romans had chosen it because it was with the place where the East-West and North-South ways crossed.
the Roman wall surrounding Aventicum consisted of 73 turns of duty, it does not remain about it now more that one entirely upright, it acts of famous the Tornallaz, which was renovated twice. The others turns as for them are buried or destroyed.
the Roman museum of Avenches shelters an invaluable collection of Gallo-Roman antiquities, of which the copy of the bust of Marc-Aurèle.

The medieval city

the old city, established on the hill, has a very interesting inheritance, a private individual the Château .

The edge of the lake

At the edge of the Lac of Morat is a beach, a port, and one of the largest camp-site of Suisse.

The city of the horse

the IENA (national equestrian Institute of Avenches) opened its doors in 1999 and accommodates each year Swiss Equidays. The IENA is the greatest Swiss multi-field horse center (races, contest of jump, military, attachment, raising, etc)
the Hippodrome of Avenches, which is on the ground of the IENA.
the national stud farm, located beside the IENA and founded in 1899, is the deposit of standards of the race half-bred and Frank-Mountains.

Demonstrations

the carnival (in March)
SlowUp, strolls with the turn of the Lac of Morat (in April)
the festival of opera (in July)
the festival of music Rock Oz' Arènes (in August)
Aventicum Musical Parades, international parade of military brass bands in the arenas (in September)
Swiss Equidays, the Swiss days of the horse (in September)

Transport

Avenches is located on the cantonal road Lausanne - Bern, very borrowed before the ouvertue of the highway A1. The section Bern - Payerne of the highway was open at the end of 1997 and the last section between Payerne and Yverdon-the-Baths in 2001. The exit of highway of Avenches is at the north of the locality, in direction of Villars-the-Large.
The railway line Morat - Payerne was open on August 25th, 1876 with a station to Avenches. Lines of bus connect Avenches to Freiburg, Cudrefin and Portalban. Been useful PubliCar is also available, as in all the remainder of the District of Avenches.

History

At the time Roman, Aventicum was capital of Helvétie Roman and counted more than 20 ' 000 inhabitants. Its Amphithéâtre preserved very well is used for several events cultural during the year.
the commune of Avenches amalgamated on July 1st, 2006 with its small neighbor of Donatyre, following the acceptance of the project by the inhabitants of the two communes on June 5th, 2005.

Personalities

Marius d' Avenches, bishop and chronicler at the end of the 6th century.
Ernest Failloubaz, (1892 - 1919), Swiss pilot.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Official site of the commune of Avenches
National stud farm
national equestrian Institute of Avenches
Festival Rock'n'roll Oz' Arenas
the Castle

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