Sottens transmitter, Broadcasting tower in Jorat-Menthue, Switzerland.
Sottens is a broadcasting facility in the Jorat-Menthue area that transmits medium-wave radio signals across French-speaking Switzerland. The installation includes a tall mast and support structures rising above the flat agricultural land of the Gros-de-Vaud district.
Built by the Swiss PTT to replace the Geneva and Lausanne transmitters, Sottens went on air on 25 March 1931 with 25 kW on 677 kHz. Power rose to 100 kW in 1934 and 600 kW by 1988. During World War II it broadcast uncensored news, including René Payot's Rendez-Vous du Vendredi, and was guarded by the army. Medium-wave service ended on 31 December 2010.
The transmitter shaped how French-speaking Swiss could connect to national broadcasts and local news. It became a landmark that many recognize as part of their region's identity and technological heritage.
The transmitter is easy to reach from the main roads through the Gros-de-Vaud district and stands out clearly above the flat terrain. Visitors should prepare for walks through open farmland since the site sits in a rural area.
The 125-metre reserve tower, built in 1931, is a Swiss cultural property of national significance and was kept when the 188-metre main mast was demolished on 20 August 2014. Since 2015, Gecko Sensations has opened this tower to the public for climbing.
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