Fountain located on the Promenade Auguste Fallet © ADNV – Lionel Bourgeois
Whether you’re simply curious or a fan of local history, the City of Yverdon-les-Bains has been offering a new, fun walking tour dedicated to its historic fountains since the beginning of summer. Whether you’re strolling past a fountain, admiring a gargoyle, or standing by one of Yverdon’s canals, this walk takes you on a journey back in time… and offers a refreshing break.
Water has always played an important role in Yverdon-les-Bains. As far back as Roman times, the sulfur- and sodium-rich thermal spring, which gushes from the ground at 28° C, was used for its healing properties. Later, this same spring enabled the town of Yverdon to develop its spa industry, which reached its golden age in the 18th century, as recounted by the Museum of Yverdon and the Region. So you can see that water isn’t just present in Yverdon—it’s an integral part of local life and the human activities that take place there. As a side note, Yverdon officially adopted the name Yverdon-les-Bains in 1982. And in all of this, we haven’t even mentioned the various streams that flow through the town before emptying into Lake Neuchâtel.
Let’s get back to this famous fountain trail. Marked by 18 plaques featuring QR codes—which you’ll easily find by following the trail and looking around the fountains where they’re affixed—the route is both pleasant and refreshing. To be honest, we found ourselves rediscovering corners, paths, and spots around Yverdon—whether stopping for coffee on a terrace, taking a break in a public park, or popping into one of the downtown shops. Whether you start at the train station or Place Pestalozzi, the loop-shaped route is designed so that you can easily follow it at your own pace and without any constraints: people with limited mobility and families with strollers can enjoy the walk without worrying about any inaccessible sections.
The role of a fountain in a neighborhood, what Yverdon looked like before the Jura River regulation project, and the various details engraved on the basins—here’s a brief overview of what we’ve learned as we’ve progressed. Thanks to the work carried out by the Yverdon-les-Bains City Archives, the content that appears on our smartphones each time we scan a QR code takes us back in time through newspaper articles and/or images from the past.
We suggest starting at Place Pestalozzi, right in the heart of downtown. This will give you time to enjoy a quick coffee on a sidewalk café before your walk. And if you arrive at the train station, you can head directly toward the Benno Besson Theater or downtown. Ultimately, this route has the advantage of giving everyone the freedom they want to explore the city of Yverdon-les-Bains at their own pace.