Hôtel de ville Morges

Morges Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Morges) sits at Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville 1, in the old town of Morges on Lake Geneva, in the canton of Vaud. Its roots are late Gothic, and the Swiss inventory of cultural property ranks it as a monument of national importance. The town administration still works from here.

How old is Morges town hall?

The main block went up around 1515-1520 in late Gothic style, and the projecting stair tower dates from that same phase. The tower was raised in 1588-1589. A southern annex followed around 1620, and a monumental portal was added in 1682. Arcades opened up the ground floor in 1748, and a renovation ran from 1944 to 1947.

The result is a building that carries several centuries at once: Gothic proportions and a spiral staircase in the tower, paired with a baroque-era doorway and arcades.

What can you see on the square?

The square in front was once called Place du Marché, the market square. It is first mentioned in 1329. The federal ISOS inventory describes it as the only square planned from the very start of the town, so you are looking at a deliberate civic centre, not a space that simply grew.

Look closely at three features:

• the stair tower jutting out of the facade,
• the portal of 1682,
• the 18th-century arcades at street level.

What are the Grenette and Casino?

Attached to the town hall is the former Grenette, a grain hall that was combined with a Casino. It was built between 1822 and 1827 to designs by Henri Perregaux, an architect from Vaud. The neoclassical building first served as a grain market and also housed a hall for shows and conferences. It is now an annex of the town hall and is listed as a monument of regional importance.

From 2012 to 2014 it was converted and restored by the Lausanne firm Ferrari Architectes for the municipality. The key move was restoring the double-height volume of the old grain hall, which had been cut down by an office mezzanine.

How do you get there and how long do you need?

Morges lies on the shore of Lake Geneva between Lausanne and Geneva. The town hall stands in the heart of the old town, next to the pedestrian Grand-Rue with its shops, cafes and restaurants. Everything in the centre is reachable on foot. Looking at the building from the outside takes 15-20 minutes; add a stroll through the old town and the lakefront and you have one to two hours.

Because it is a working administrative building, treat it as a monument to admire from outside rather than a ticketed attraction.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Morges town hall?

It is an active municipal building. The facade, portal, tower and arcades are open to view from the square, while access to the interior depends on office hours.

When was the town hall built?

The main part dates from around 1515-1520 in late Gothic style. Later additions came in 1588-1589 (raised tower), around 1620 (southern annex), 1682 (portal) and 1748 (arcades).

Who designed the Grenette and Casino?

Henri Perregaux, an architect from Vaud, between 1822 and 1827. It served as a grain market and event hall.

Where exactly is it?

At Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville 1, 1110 Morges, in the old town centre near the pedestrian Grand-Rue.