In 170 AD, an imposing Roman villa stood in Orbe. The mosaics that covered 9 of the 100 rooms of this luxurious residence are now protected by four pavilions that can be visited from May to the end of October. The tours are accompanied by digital tablets, and guides are available on request.
Discovered in the mid-19th century north of the town of Orbe in the Yverdon-les-Bains region, the mosaics used to adorn the most important rooms in the villa. Made of naturally coloured stones, they depict gods, trompe l’œil geometric shapes or figurative scenes of Greek mythology, such as the famous labyrinth of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Although it is still not known who owned the villa, the luxurious decoration of this huge dwelling (230 m by 90-110 m) would suggest that he was very wealthy and enjoyed a luxurious life style.
Between 1986 and 2004, the Boscéaz site was an educational site for archaeology students at Lausanne University. These digs led to the discovery of a 9th mosaic, a mithraeum (place of worship dedicated to the god Mithra) and a spa.
- Mosaïques romaines
- Villa romaine d'Orbe-Boscéaz
- 1350 Orbe - CH
- How to get there?
INFORMATION
Agence ADNV / Office du Tourisme du Nord Vaudois
Avenue de la Gare 2
1401 Yverdon-les-Bains - CH
Tel : +4124 423 03 13
tourisme@adnv.chhttp://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.chOpening hours
From May 1, 2024 To Jun 30, 2024
- Saturday
- 10:00-18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00-18:00
From Jul 1, 2024 To Sep 30, 2024
- Wednesday
- 10:00-18:00
- Thursday
- 10:00-18:00
- Friday
- 10:00-18:00
- Saturday
- 10:00-18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00-18:00
From Oct 1, 2024 To Oct 31, 2024
- Saturday
- 10:00-18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00-18:00
Practical information
Guided tours are available on request in French, German or English. To organise a group tour on request (with or without a guide): Office du tourisme du Nord Vaudois, 024 423 03 13, tourisme@adnv.ch
Opening times:
- Open on public holidays
- During the winter, the site is closed to the public as the premises are not heated and the toilets are not operational during this period. Visits, with or without a guide, are nevertheless possible by prior arrangement. The site will be fully operational again from the beginning of May 2024.
Free admission:
- Children under 12
- Raiffeisen card
- Museum Passport
- Member of the Association of Friends of Pro UrbaLinks
Prices
Guided tour
- Guide/during opening hours
- CHF 85.-
- Guide/outside opening hours
- CHF 115.-
Groups (from 10 people)
- Adult
- CHF 8.-
- Child/Student/Senior
- CHF 6.-
- School group / pupil
- CHF 4.-
- Visit outside opening hours
- CHF 55.-
Individual
- Adult
- CHF 10.-
- Child/Student/Senior
- CHF 8.-
- Family
- CHF 25.-
- One-parent family
- CHF 15.-
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