The historical nature trail between Prangins Castle and the La Lignière estate is signposted with blue and white path markers and comprises 10 stations.
Thanks to its digital developments, this new historical trail is a true open-air museum, inviting visitors to discover our rich but largely unknown history. The project is supported by the municipality of Prangins, the Swiss National Museum – Château de Prangins, and the City of Gland through its Cultural Service, and it was inaugurated on September 1, 2018.
Spanning more than three centuries of history, along a trail linking Prangins to Gland—from the château to La Lignière—the path first invites visitors to follow in the footsteps of Louis-François Guiguer, Baron of Prangins, and to immerse themselves in daily life in the 18th century. Later, one can discover, for example, the life of the renowned Parisian couturier Worth, or that of the famous Dr. Forel, a disciple of Freud, as well as the daily lives of Gland’s peasants and townspeople, and, some time later, the soldiers stationed in the forts along the Toblerone Trail.
This historical trail allows visitors not only to explore our territory and its heritage, but also to create temporal bridges between the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Ten strategic stops mark this walking trail. From the starting point at the Château de Prangins, it leads to Sadex-Les Abériaux with its UNESCO-listed pile-dwelling site, continues to Promenthoux, named after the noble family that lived there in the 13th century, then to the Golf Impérial, formerly the Bergerie estate, where members of Napoleon’s family took refuge in 1814. The trail then climbs along the Toblerone Trail to the Avouillons, a former farm built at the behest of Baroness Guiguer, continues to the old village of Gland, once a hub for trade and dispute resolution, and to Montoly, with its extensive agricultural lands. The route ends at La Lignière, the original house of the Baron Guiguer’s steward, a former residence of Voltaire, later a nursing school, and now the current clinic.
Throughout this easily accessible trail, which can be reached at several points via public transport, distinctive signage marks each stop and directs visitors to a dedicated website, offering both detailed historical information and practical guidance.
