TMP Morges Castle

Description

• Morges, the city for those who love great strolls and local products, brims with witnesses of the past. Facing the somptuous Mont-Blanc, its cultural centre and its harbour adorned with sentry boxes give it a unique charm. The castle, built in the XIIIth century, houses a collection of weapons, armors, uniforms, artillery and figurines : more than 10'000 objects that retraces the military history of the Pays de Vaud and Switzerland, from the Middle Ages to the Cold War. Since 2016, an exhibition is also dedicated to Ignace Paderewski, famous pianist and Polish statesman, inhabitant of Morges for more than 40 years.
  
  In the 13th century, the bishops of Lausanne heirs to the county of Vaud, found themselves threatened by the two powerful houses of Savoy and Habsbourg. From 1240 Pierre II of Savoy 'the little Charlemagne' made himself a principality in the Country of Vaud which in 1286 became a prerogative of the youngest of the family, Louis de Savoy, who was the first baron of Vaud. It is he who built the castle and founded the town of Morges to oppose the bishop of Lausanne.
  
  Consequently, the castle was used as a sporadic residence for the barons of Vaud then for the counts and dukes of Savoy when the baronie joined the crown.
  
  After the revolution, the castle became property of the state of Vaud and was mainly used as an arsenal and since 1932 it has housed the Vaud Military Museum.
  
  The castle is a perfect example of the 'carré Savoyard'. It does however include two particular features: The inner courtyard is raised to the level of the old entry which one reached via a drawbridge and the towers have round copings, a modification that was carried out in the 16th century at the time of the introduction of artillery.
  
  Today the castle houses 5 museums:
  > The Swiss museum of historical figurines
  > The Vaudois Military museum
  > The Vaudois Gendarmerie museum
  > The Museum of Artillery
  > The Paderewski Museum

Services

• Guided tours

Tarifs

Reduced price: 9 CHF
Adult: 10 CHF
Child (6-16 years): 3 CHF
Student: 8 CHF
Group adults: 8 CHF
Set price group adults: 100 CHF (Guided tours :
On request, book at least 3 weeks in advance.
Package price CHF 100 for up to 20 people per guide (excluding admission tickets).
Duration: approx. 1h15).

Free entry for children < 6 years.
Group rate available for > 10 people.

Période d'ouverture

From 01/06 to 01/09 between 10 am and 5 pm.
Closed on Monday.

Langues parlées

• German
• English
• French

Localisation

How to get there:
From Geneva: freeway exit, follow signs for "Arsenal" (yellow sign).
From Lausanne: 2nd exit Morges ouest, then direction "Arsenal" (yellow sign).

Animaux

Animaux acceptés : Non