🇨🇭🌷 « La Fête de la Tulipe » in Morges celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, and this year’s 53rd edition will run from 1st April ⇒ 14th May 2023 . . .
You don’t have to travel too far from the 🏔 Pays du Mont-Blanc to experience total dépaysement, to distance yourself from the mountain valleys and high snowy peaks; just the other side of 🇨🇭 Lac Léman will take you to a land of open vistas of the lake with an alpine backdrop (those very same mountains that are on our doorstep 🏔 au Pays du Mont-Blanc!). A milder climate allows for vineyards to flourish and 🌷 springtime flowers to bloom.
Among the lovely lakeside villages and towns to explore on the other side of 🇨🇭 Lac Léman is Morges . . . and Morges also hosts the pretty 🌷 « Fête de la Tulipe » each year, marking the return of springtime.
A lakeside stroll in Morges is perfect for a family outing . . . so pack your 🍏 picnic, pick a warm and sunny day, and don’t forget a 🚲 draisienne, or pedal bike, or 🛴 scooter for little explorers . . .
« La Fête de la Tulipe »
Every year, for the duration of about six weeks, the association « Morges Fleur du Léman » delights with 🌷 a carpet of tulips in the Parc de l’Indépendence (between the Château de Morges and the river La Morges) . . . about 🌷 120 000 tulips, from about 300 varieties, are planted and the result is a mosaic of vibrant colour! And to visit the event is FREE!
🍁 autumn preparation: during the autumn months, apprentice horiculturalists from Centre d’Enseignement Professionnel de Morges (CEPM) and gardeners from la Ville de Morges busy themselves getting the ground ready for this festival!
🌷 history of the event: the 🌷 « Fête de la Tulipe » was conceived in 1971 to celebrate and mark the 50th anniversary of the Société Vaudoise d’Horticulture. The Parc de l’Indépendance as the choice of location is a salute to the Vaudoise independence of 1898;
🌳 Parc de l’Indépendence: this green park has 50 types of trees, including the impressive chestnut tree from 1750 and giant sequoias;
🌈 animations – during the festival, there are plenty of weekend animations, exhibitions, gastronomic specialities, brunches, music, markets . . . / ⇒ see website for more details about the animations;
🎉 50th birthday celebrations 2020 – to celebrate its 50th edition, a special statue by Leo Orta (and in collaboration with the Dutch company gutundgut) was unveiled in the Parc de l’Indépendance;
☕️ buvette – installed for the duration of the event from 10h to 18h, you can get snacks from 11h to 17h (run by the Fondation du Relais, which works towards the re-insertion into society of adults and young people in difficulty);
🌷 spectacle son & lumière – you can still enjoy son & lumière spectacle created by artist Albin Christen for the 50th edition of the festival – it recounts 🌷 the history of the tulip, from its origins to its arrival in Morges! / where? a black box at the entrance to the park, every 30mins / price: CHF 5 for adults and CHF 2 for kids / ⇒ see here for more information;
Morges – a little history
A visit to the 🌷 « Fête de la Tulipe » is also the perfect opportunity to amble through the streets of this medieval lakeside town, or to continue your stroll down the quayside towards 🌳 Parc de Vertou, with its spacious lawns and playground . . .
🏰 Château de Morges – is a medieval castle. In 1286 Louis of Savoy founded the city in a pasture and he built a castle to protect the new city. Very soon, Morges became a thriving market centre and a city transporting goods by land and water. Like many other castles, it became the cantonal armory in 1803, then it was expanded in 1836-39 and damaged in an explosion in 1871. From 1925, it has housed the Vaud Military Museum.
[ ⇒ read more about the 🏰 Château de Morges ]
🎹 Igor Stravinsky in Morges – the musician settled for a while in Morges a century ago (from 1915 until 1917), looking for calm and a mild climate to finish his works Histoire du soldat, Pulcinella, Les Noces, and Renard. The manor house that he occupied has been transformed into an elegant hotel & restaurant.
[ ⇒ read more about the La Maison d’Igor ]
MBFF’s visit to Morges
The MBFF team visited Morges one warm and sunny October day a few years ago (when the dahlias along the lakeside were in bloom), and here is where we strolled en famille:
- 🌳 Parc de l’Indépendence and 🏰 Château de Morges;
- along the Quai du Mont-Blanc and the Quai Igor Stravinski – here, there are lakeside boulders to clamber over (take small children by the hand!), 🦆 ducks and ⛵️ boats to admire, 🌺beautiful flowers and 🗻 snowy mountain views . . . also the perfect route for a draisienne, pedal bike, scooter or buggy!
- 🌳 Parc de Vertou – here we paused to enjoy the playground, before heading back to the car;
🍏 picnic spots – Parc de l’Indépendence, along the quayside (benches, lovely views of lake and snowy peaks) and Parc de Vertou;
🛝 playgrounds – in front of the Temple de Morges (beginning of walk) and le Parc de Vertou (large, spacious lawn for ball games around the playground);
🗺 Google Map of our route:
Practical Information
👨👩👧👦 children – Morges Tourisme has a leaflet for a children’s visit through old Morges: history, anecdotes and mysteries / ⇒ see here for more details or here to download leaflet;
🅿️ parking: you can park next to the Parc de l’Indépendence, at the Parc des Sports;
♿️ mobilité réduite – the park and the tulip festival are set up to accommodate wheelchair users;
website Office de Tourisme de Morges: rue du Château, 2, 1110, Morges, Switerland tel: +41 21 801 32 33
Mont Blanc Family Fun 
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