Stay 
Tower of Villarzel
approx. 1 km
Former fortress of the bishops of Lausanne, who liked to stay here in the 13th century. Only one tower survives, at the edge of the old village of Villarzel.
Photo: Christophe Badoux, CC BY-SA 3.0
Château de Marnand: a night in a 17th-century château in Vaud, Switzerland
The Château de Marnand in Valbroye, in the Swiss canton of Vaud, is a 17th-century château probably built on the site of a medieval fortress. After years as a girls’ boarding school and then the seat of a philanthropic society, it has been under restoration since 2021 and today welcomes overnight guests, with a garden, an indoor pool and a sauna.
At a glance
- Location
- Marnand, part of the municipality of Valbroye (canton of Vaud), in the Broye valley between Payerne and Lucens
- Accommodation
- Château described by Expedia as an upscale château, run by a private host; guest rooms with free Wi-Fi, indoor pool, sauna and garden
- Highlights
- Indoor pool, sauna and wellness offers, garden, art gallery, wine-tasting room, snack bar, meeting rooms, free parking
- Guest rating
- no reviews on Expedia yet (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in 3–10 pm (late check-in 10 pm to midnight for a fee) · check-out by 12 noon
- Good to know
- Only assistance animals allowed · continental breakfast at extra cost · no lift · designated smoking areas
Staying at the Château de Marnand: a château stay in the Broye valley
To stay overnight at the Château de Marnand is to sleep in a historic Vaud château that is being given a new life. Expedia presents it as an upscale château managed by a private host, with a large stone house, a courtyard framed by greenery and modern bathrooms with marble walls and walk-in showers. All guest rooms have free Wi-Fi, and the listing mentions a memory-foam mattress and bed linen provided.
Beyond the rooms, the property has a lot to offer for a château in a small village: an indoor pool with loungers, a sauna and wellness offers, a garden, an art gallery, designer boutiques and a small grocery shop on site, plus a room for wine tasting. A concierge service, multilingual staff and help with planning tours and buying tickets are also listed.
A continental breakfast is served daily from 8 to 11 am for an extra charge, and there is a snack bar. According to the listing, the host also cooks a dinner on Saturdays, available at an extra charge and by reservation. There is no lift, which is worth remembering if you have heavy luggage.
Photos of Château de Marnand
The history of the Château de Marnand
- 1142 – Marnand is first mentioned in writing as Marnant. Roman remains, in particular coins, and Burgundian graves have been found in the village.
- 1497 – The lordship, which had belonged to the Villarzel family, passes to the Loys family.
- 1708 – It is sold to Jean Müller of Bern, a former bailiff of Moudon, and later belongs to the Thormann and Notz families.
- c. 1840 – The 17th-century château, probably built on the site of a medieval fortress, becomes a boarding school for girls.
- 1818–1876 – Marnand is an important post-horse stage on the road to Bern, with 80 to 120 horses permanently on hand, until the Broye railway line opens.
- 1937–2015 – The château is occupied by a philanthropic society.
- 2011 – Marnand merges with seven neighbouring municipalities to form the new municipality of Valbroye.
- 2021 – After a change of ownership, major restoration work begins on the château.
According to French Wikipedia, the château dates from the 17th century and probably stands on the site of an older medieval fortress. The lordship of Marnand belonged first to the lords of Villarzel and, from 1497, to the Loys family, before passing to Bernese owners in the 18th century.
The village was long a busy halt on the main road: between 1818 and 1876 it served as a post stage, until the railway along the Broye took the traffic away. Wikipedia does not describe the château’s architecture in detail, so for the interiors it is best to consult the photos and description in the Expedia listing.
Facilities and services at the Château de Marnand
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); they may vary from room to room.
Rooms & comfort
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (over 50 Mbit/s)
- Memory-foam mattress
- Bed linen provided
- Bathrooms with marble walls and shower
- Housekeeping on request
Wellness & leisure
- Indoor pool, open 2–8 pm
- Sun loungers by the pool
- Sauna and wellness offers
- Garden
- Art gallery and designer boutiques on site
Food & drink
- Continental breakfast daily, 8–11 am (extra charge)
- Snack bar
- Saturday dinner cooked by the host, on reservation (extra charge)
- Wine-tasting room
- Small grocery shop
Services
- Concierge service and multilingual staff
- Luggage storage and dry cleaning/laundry
- Help with tours and tickets
- Meeting rooms
- Free parking; no lift
- Designated smoking areas
Where the Château de Marnand is: between Payerne and Lucens
Marnand lies on the right bank of the Broye, at the mouth of the little Rioz stream, between Payerne and Lucens and close to Granges-près-Marnand on the other side of the river. The main road 1 runs through the village. Expedia gives about 9 minutes by car to Payerne station and 58 minutes to Bern-Belp airport; a café-restaurant is an 8-minute walk away.
The listing names Payerneland, the Laura Park amusement centre and Lucens Castle among attractions within about 10 km, and the Way of St James within about 15 km. Payerne Abbey, with its 11th-century church, is a short drive away, and the Roman town of Avenches is a little further.
The landscape is that of the Vaud and Fribourg Broye: gently rolling farmland dotted with villages and small castles. Lake Neuchâtel is around 16 km away as the crow flies, and Lake Murten about 24 km, which makes day trips easy.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from the Château de Marnand)
| Tower of Villarzel | approx. 1 km |
| Granges-près-Marnand (village) | approx. 1.5 km |
| Henniez (mineral springs village) | approx. 2 km |
| Château de Surpierre | approx. 3 km |
| Romont and its castle | approx. 7 km |
| Château de Lucens | approx. 7 km |
| Payerne Abbey | approx. 7.5 km |
| Estavayer-le-Lac and Château de Chenaux | approx. 11 km |
| Moudon | approx. 13 km |
| Avenches (Roman Aventicum) | approx. 18 km |
Distances calculated as the crow flies; driving times to the station and airport are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around the Château de Marnand
Château de Surpierre
approx. 3 km
Castle in the village of Surpierre in the canton of Fribourg, protected as a cultural property of national significance.
Photo: WWHenderson20, CC BY-SA 3.0
Romont and its castle
approx. 7 km
Town in the canton of Fribourg whose castle has housed the district prefecture since 1848 and, since 1981, the Vitromusée, the Swiss stained-glass museum.
Photo: Archipat, CC BY-SA 3.0
Château de Lucens
approx. 7 km
Medieval stronghold on a rocky hill, held by the bishops of Lausanne and then by Bern from 1536 to 1798. It is now privately owned and listed as a historic monument.
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0
Payerne Abbey
approx. 7.5 km
Abbey church built in the 11th century for a Cluniac Benedictine monastery that closed at the Reformation. Restored, it now houses a museum on its history and architecture.
Photo: Roland Zumbühl, CC BY-SA 3.0
Avenches (Aventicum)
approx. 18 km
Roman Aventicum, capital of the Helvetii in the early Empire. The amphitheatre, built around AD 130, still stands, with a Roman museum in its former guard tower.
Photo: noface, public domain
Tours & activities near Château de Marnand
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Vevey, Montreux, Chillon Day Trip from Geneva
Discover the Swiss Riviera, enjoy the unique landscape of this famous area! Discover the cities of Montreux, Vevey, the Lavaux vineyards of the …
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Montreux, Vevey, Chaplin's World and Chillon Castle Private Tour
Fall in love with the Swiss Riviera sceneries around the Leman Lake. Ride our comfortable coach from Geneva, drive through the Vaud countryside …
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Vevey’s Private Holiday Charm: A Festive Lakeside Stroll
Enjoy a private, exclusive tour with your own local guide. “Vevey’s Holiday Charm: A Festive Lakeside Stroll” invites you to immerse yourself in the …
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Immerse in Vevey: Lakeside Charm, History & Culinary Experiences
Go on a dreamy vacation in the enchanting little town of Vevey, by admiring the majestic natural landscapes of the crystal clear Vevey Lake …
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Private Arrival Transfer: from Geneva Airport to Vevey
Private & punctual transportation services from Geneva Airport to your hotel in Vevey with the most comfortable and luxurious vehicles.
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Exploring Vevey: A Private Journey into Swiss Heritage
Explore at your own pace with a fully private guided tour. Embark on an exhilarating walking tour in Vevey and unlock the hero within you as you …
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Vevey Guided Walking Tour with Hidden Gems and Local Stories
You walk through Vevey with someone who actually lives here, not a script read from a card. This tour skips the generic highlights list and takes you …
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Private Photo Session with a Local Photographer in Vevey
Want to capture your amazing honeymoon? Family vacation while the kids are still little? Your perfect couples retreat from everyday busy life? A solo …
View details ›Who is the Château de Marnand for?
Wellness fans
An indoor pool, a sauna and wellness offers in a château setting make a relaxing break between sightseeing days.
History lovers
A 17th-century château on medieval foundations, a lordship documented since 1142 and, nearby, Payerne Abbey, Lucens Castle and Roman Avenches.
Art and wine lovers
The listing mentions an art gallery and a wine-tasting room on site, a pleasant start to an evening in the Broye region.
Road-trippers
Between Bern, Lausanne and Lake Neuchâtel, with free parking, the château is a quiet base for exploring western Switzerland by car.
Good to know before booking the Château de Marnand
- Check-in is from 3 pm to 10 pm; a later check-in, from 10 pm to midnight, is possible for a fee. Check-out is by 12 noon.
- Pets are not allowed; only assistance animals are welcome.
- A continental breakfast is available daily for an extra charge, and a Saturday dinner can be reserved at an extra charge.
- The indoor pool can be used from 2 pm to 8 pm.
- Parking is free, with limited spaces on site and free parking nearby. There is no lift.
- The property is run by a private host and has designated smoking areas.
Find available dates at Château de Marnand
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the Château de Marnand?
Yes. The Château de Marnand is bookable via Expedia, which describes it as an upscale château run by a private host with guest rooms, an indoor pool and a sauna.
Does the Château de Marnand have a pool?
Yes, there is an indoor pool with loungers, open from 2 pm to 8 pm according to the listing.
Are pets allowed?
No. According to Expedia, only assistance animals are welcome.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 3 pm to 10 pm, with late check-in from 10 pm to midnight for a fee. Check-out is by 12 noon.
Is there parking at the château?
Yes, parking is free, with limited spaces on site and free parking a short distance away.
What is there to see near the Château de Marnand?
Villarzel tower and Surpierre Castle are 1 to 3 km away, Lucens, Romont and Payerne Abbey about 7 km, and Roman Avenches about 18 km.
Photos of the rooms, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Château de Marnand listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a Vaud château with a pool and sauna? Check availability and current prices for the Château de Marnand on Expedia.
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