The ancient village of Romainmôtier in Switzerland’s Jura Mountains is one of my favourite places in the world.
It grew up around a monastic community founded about 450AD by a monk called Romanus and has a lovely sense of serenity (Romainmôtier means ‘Romanus’ monastery’). I’ve been visiting Romainmôtier for years and feel at home here, sharing a drink with locals in the pub after dinner, returning to my favourite café to breakfast on excellent croissants, and visiting a nearby mountain chalet for great fondue. Of course, there are new discoveries to be made each visit too. My Romainmôtier food guide shares the foodie highlights of the medieval village that’s the starting point for my Swiss food and wine tour.
Where to Stay in Romainmôtier Maison Junod
This comfortable chambre d’hôtes (B&B) in the heart of the village was once part of the historic Au Lieutenant Baillival hotel next door (now a private residence). Its six spacious rooms are each named for something local, from the forest and the roses to the river Nozon, with warm traditional décor inspired by the surrounding countryside. I love the grand piano in the guest lounge on the top floor.
Where to Eat in Romainmôtier Maison du Prieur
The priory around which this charming village is built dates to the late 10th century. Today its ground floor houses a restaurant with several ornate dining rooms, one of which includes an open hearth in front of which chickens are roasted. The food is classic French Swiss including good house-made terrines and substantial fruit tarts. The adjoining church is one of Switzerland’s most important examples of Cluniac Romanesque architecture.
Where to Drink in Romainmôtier La Brasse-Mortier Microbrewery
This excellent microbrewery is run as a cooperative by a team of locals committed to keeping artisanal brews alive. Archaeologist-turned-brewer, Fabrice Tournelle, handmakes six traditional beers using local spring water: a pilsner, wheat beer and stout, plus pale, old and red ales. Apart from great beer, there are delicious platters of regional cold cuts and cheese and live music some nights when neighbours drop by to jam.
Where to Meet the Locals in Romainmôtier Hotel St Romain
The local pub, Hotel St Romain, is opposite Maison Junod (above). Run by the quirky Alsatian Patrick, it’s where I often end up for an after-dinner schnapps. It’s a favourite haunt of the locals too, an affable lot happy to share their bar space and chat with visitors in a mixture of French, German and English. Patrick also offers simple meals and accommodation.
Best Breakfast in Romainmôtier Fleur de Farine
It shouldn’t be hard to get a good croissant in Europe, right? It’s such a breakfast staple. But even in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, I’m often disappointed. Not so at this unassuming wood-fired bakery-café, where the almond croissants are my benchmark. The flans, artisanal bread and coffee are good too, as is the view of the priory from my preferred perch at the window counter. This is how I love to start my day!
Where to Spice Things Up in Romainmôtier Chez Magali
For a long time, this beautiful village was lacking just one thing: a choice of great places to eat. Then along came Magali with her love of spices and Breton crepes! Now, in a shady cobbled courtyard next to the Brasse-Mortier, we can relax and enjoy a coffee and sweet treat, a snack and aperitif, or dig into a delicious buckwheat crepe or something heartier. Much of Magali’s cooking is inspired by the spices and flavours of the Middle East.
Best Fondue near Romainmôtier La Breguettaz Chalet-Restaurant
This wooden chalet, built in the early 1700s, is one of my favourite places for fondue. The short drive up from Romainmôtier is part of the adventure as it sits at 1,080 metres (3,540′) in the Jura Mountains. Start with a plate of smoked ham, air-dried beef and pickles. Then dive into moitié-moitié fondue (half Gruyère and half Vacherin Fribourgeois) and finish with the traditional meringue with double cream and schnapps.
Updated 10 Oct 2026
The village of Romainmôtier sits in the valley of the Nozon river, about 8km (5 miles) from Orbe, where the Côtes de l’Orbe wine region begins.
Romainmôtier is in the Jura Mountains of canton Vaud – less than 10km (6 miles) from the French border – but not in canton Jura, which is further north.
The Jura mountain range itself stretches along much of Switzerland’s border with France, crossing several cantons including Vaud, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern, Solothurn, Basel-Landschaft and Aargau.
Romainmôtier was founded by Romanus, one of the ‘Jura Fathers’ – monks who established communities on both sides of the Jura Mountains – making Romainmôtier one of Switzerland’s oldest monastic settlements.
In 928 or 929 the monastery was handed over to the powerful Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy. Between 990 and 1028 its monks built the church that stands today, modelled on Cluny’s own second abbey church, making it one of the oldest Romanesque buildings in Switzerland.
Inside are an early pulpit from the 8th century and 14th-century frescoes.
The monastery was dissolved after Bern conquered Vaud and imposed the Reformation in 1536, but the church survived and still hosts services and concerts.
Romainmôtier is surrounded by forest and farmland, with walks for all fitness levels.
A 3km (2 mile) return walk climbs from the village to the Forel Belvedere lookout, which has spectacular views over the village and surrounding countryside.
A gentle 1.5km (1 mile) path leads down to the neighbouring hamlet of Croy, home to Croy-Romainmôtier railway station.
For a longer hike there’s a 13km (8 mile) heritage trail exploring the area’s history, while a shorter walk leads to a 5,000-year-old engraved Neolithic stone.
