Gatehouse

Acquisition by the Foundation in 1971 of the former bakery; successive renovations for the reception of Romainmôtier’s guests by the Association de la Porterie and the Tourist Office, three lodgings.

TITHE BARN

Acquired in 1979. The Tithe Barn was built in 1707 to store the tithe, or tenth part of the grain harvest, a tax introduced by the Bernese, and salt. It later underwent transformations to become a barn and rural, then a cabinet-making workshop. Today the house is entirely dedicated to farming.

Basement: workshop, ground floor: art gallery, ^{1st floor:} space for the presentation of the film Romainmôtier Rétrospectives and historical presentation, ^{2nd floor:} Pierre Aubert and Julian Willis space – hangings, ^3rd floor, attic: Jehan Alain organ, presentation of the organ, the life of the Alain family and space for concerts.

ST. GEORGE’S TOWER

Acquired in 1979, 13th or 14th century construction, remnant of the defence system of the Priory and the Abbey, ground floor: vault, upper floors: former apartment and attic used as a prison. Pebble graffiti, remains of a sundial on the south façade.

OLD SQUARE BARN

Acquisition in 1979, renovation in 1985 of this former rural house and creation in the basement of a gas boiler room for several sites in the Cour du Cloître, an office and two dwellings.

COURT GALLERY (Formerly Elebor Centre)

Property of the State of Vaud which acquired this former rural house and stables in 1977 and lent it to the Foundation for 50 years.
Kitchen, living quarters and vast creative and exhibition spaces on three levels

PRIOR’S HOUSE

Acquisition in 2018 from Frédérique Drilhon, daughter of Katharina von Arx and Freddy Drilhon who acquired this house in 1960 from the Commune of Juriens which has retained the water source of the Château. Last residence in Europe of a Cluniac Prior who stayed at Romainmôtier between 1245 and 1536, then residence of the Bernese Bailiff and various owners between 1798 and 1960.

From 1922, the Château housed three dwellings and the Museum of Old Romainmôtier which, in three rooms, exhibited objects from the regional heritage and an exhibition of paintings on loan from the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts and the Confederation. Ernest Bieler and François Bocion’s works were exhibited in one of the rooms. For almost 50 years, Katharina von Arx contributed to the restoration and rehabilitation of this house with the support of many donors and the Romainmôtier Foundation.

Today the Prior’s House is a space dedicated to reception, receptions and banquets, civil weddings, catering with a café-restaurant and vast rooms and library. Visits of this enigmatic house are organized to discover the successive transformations, remnants of history, frescoes and murals and the presence of the inhabitants for nearly 800 years.