Parc naturel du Jorat

Every year, the Jorat forest near the city of Lausanne attracts one million visitors who enjoy fresh air, peace and quiet a stone's throw away from town. Highly distinctive landscapes, a remarkable biodiversity and a unique history characterize this mainly rural area.

The 4000 hectares Jorat forest is the largest continuous forest in the Swiss lowlands. For centuries, religious institutions have managed these woods. This activity came to a halt after the 1536 Reformation because of the bandits who had been very active in the area since the twelfth and thirteenth century. Armed with knives, clubs and daggers, they attacked pilgrims, merchants and noblemen.

Thanks to its climate the region has a high annual rainfall rate (1300 mm per year). Its geology allows the water to be stored in numerous springs, wetlands and marshlands, thus creating a reserve that could temporarily supply the whole region should the Geneva lake nearby be polluted.

A high biodiversity area thanks to its rich variety of landscapes, the region is also home to insects, amphibians, birds, large mammals and numerous plant species. High biodiversity is an indicator for an intact environment.