Romainmôtier, Village in Vaud, Switzerland
Romainmôtier is a small village in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, recognized as a Swiss townscape worthy of protection for its old stone buildings and medieval character. At its center stands an abbey church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, surrounded by former monastery buildings that are still standing today.
The village grew around a monastery said to have been founded in the 5th century by Saints Roman and Sulpicius, and it prospered through the medieval period. In 1536, the community adopted the Reformation, which led to the end of the monastery's religious life.
Romainmôtier sits along the Via Francigena, the old pilgrimage road that once connected Canterbury to Rome, and walkers still pass through today. Several former monastery buildings survive in the village, including the prior's residence, which was later used as a house for Bernese officials.
The village is small enough to explore entirely on foot, and most of the historic buildings are close together near the church. Visiting on a weekday tends to be quieter, which makes it easier to take in the old lanes and stone facades at your own pace.
The abbey church standing today was built in the early 11th century on the site of two earlier places of worship from the 7th and 8th centuries. Its design closely follows the style of the famous abbey of Cluny in Burgundy, which was the most influential church model of its time in Europe.
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