The Museum in Orbe owes its existence to the Foundation Pro Urba, the Latin name of Orbe. This foundation’s task is to collect and preserve the documents and objects connected to the history of Orbe and to the families that contributed to its history. The museum is established in an architecturally unique house: its façade is no wider than its front door, but the interior, spread over several floors, is spacious. The cellar boasts a beautiful fireplace and an old coffee roasting machine.

The foundation also contributes to preserving the Roman site at Boscéaz and to exhibiting the objects discovered there. Nine mosaics were found at the Roman villa at Boscéaz, 2 km from Orbe, one of the major discoveries in Switzerland. There are no above-ground structures left of this opulent Roman palace, which was discovered in the 19th century. Built around 160 A.D., it contained some hundred rooms and was abandoned because of the Alamans’ invasion. The villa was completely excavated by Lausanne University. Since the vestiges have meanwhile been covered up again, a scale model replaces the original.