Jorat Nature Discovery Park
Intro
The heavily forested “Jorat”, a hilly area north of the final stop of the Lausanne metro, is the largest contiguous woodland in the Swiss midland region. Located between Lausanne and Moudon, the road that used to be the main thoroughfare to Bern is passing through the edge of it.
The name comes from the Celtic word «jor» which means forest – the same origin as Jura. The Jorat forest is 7000 hectares in size and has considerable precipitation due to the geographic and climatic location. This is why the forest is considered to be a haven of water with many wetlands and marshes. These are holding the rainwater back – and in the event that Lake Geneva should be heavily polluted, the Jorat could temporarily supply water to the region.
Initially it was managed by church institutions, but problems subsequently developed with the so-called Jorat robbers, a group of bandits armed with knives, swords and bludgeons who ambushed pilgrims, merchants and noblemen.
Because of its proximity to the city of Lausanne, the area has about one million visitors a year. They come to enjoy peace and fresh air. The region is mostly rural with delightful scenery and a remarkable biodiversity.
