Savigny's 200th Anniversary Trail

A documented loop for the 200 years of the commune

To celebrate its bicentenary in 2025, Savigny laid out and signposted a documented route across its whole territory. The trail opened on 20 April 2026 and is published on SuisseMobile. Its distinctive feature is its eight relay points: panels fitted with QR codes that give access to video capsules and explanatory texts about the history, the places and the people of the commune. So you do not simply walk, you discover the village step by step, screen in hand.

Worth knowing before you set off: it is a long route

Let us be clear, because this is the most important point on this page. The trail forms a loop of 16.7 kilometres with about 341 metres of ascent, between 787 and 899 metres above sea level. SuisseMobile estimates the walking time at around 4 hours 10, excluding breaks. This is a hike for adults or older children used to walking, not a Sunday stroll with little ones. The good news is that the eight relay points naturally break the route up: nothing obliges you to do it all at once, and families gain from discovering it over two, three or four outings.

What your children will discover

It is the video capsules that make the difference from an ordinary walk. At each panel you take out the phone, scan the QR code and listen to what the stage has to tell. For children, this turns walking into a treasure hunt: the next relay becomes a goal. Between the stages, the route crosses the farmland of the upper village, the hamlets and the fringes of the Jorat forest, with fine views towards the Alps in clear weather.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

You walk, you scan, you talk it over. The route stays between 800 and 900 metres above sea level, so there is no steep climb: it is the distance that makes the effort, not the gradient. The waymarking and the SuisseMobile track let you start and stop wherever you like. With young children, the best approach is to pick a section with two or three relays, walk it there and back, and come another time for the next part.

Before you go

• Recommended age: from 8 for good walkers on one section; the full loop is more for teenagers and adults
• Duration: about 4 hours 10 of walking for the full 16.7 km, or one to two hours per section
• Price: free
• Booking: none, a signposted trail with open access
• Pushchair access: not recommended, the route follows country lanes and paths
• Transport: CarPostal lines 360 and 365 from Lausanne-Sallaz, Savigny, Centre stop; start and finish in the village centre
• What to bring: walking shoes, water, a snack, and a charged phone to scan the QR codes
• Best season: spring to autumn, in clear weather to enjoy the view towards the Alps

Parents' tips

• Break the loop up: with children, aim for two or three relays per outing rather than 16.7 km in one go.
• Charge the phone and check your data plan before setting off, the capsules are videos.
• The route is published on SuisseMobile: download the track before leaving, as coverage varies in the forest.
• Make every panel a goal to reach, it is the best motivation for young walkers.
• Combine a northern section with the Étang du Gresaley and its neighbouring playground for a proper half day.

Useful information

• Start and finish: centre of Savigny, Place du Forum area, 1073 Savigny (Vaud)
• Length: 16.7 km, about 341 metres of ascent, altitude between 787 and 899 metres
• Duration: about 4 hours 10 of walking according to SuisseMobile
• Opening: trail opened on 20 April 2026, freely accessible all year round
• Price: free
• Information and link to the track: commune of Savigny website, Balades et circuits section

Why we recommend it

Because the idea is rare: instead of simple waymarking, eight panels tell the story of the commune on video, and that changes everything for children who drag their feet. On one condition: the trail is long, and a family setting off without checking the distance will end up carrying the youngest after three kilometres. Taken section by section, it is a lovely way to discover Savigny.

In a nutshell

A signposted 16.7 km loop opened for the bicentenary of the commune, dotted with 8 QR code panels and video capsules: fascinating as a family, provided you discover it section by section.

Looking for more ideas nearby? Discover all our activities in Savigny.