Château Rochefort (Moudon)

Documents from the 14th century mention a house of Rochefort in Moudon. From the end of the 16th century and for more than two centuries, the building was owned by the Cerjat family, who also owned the neighboring house. The initiator of the transformations in 1595 was Francois Cerjat, Lord of Allaman, castellan of Moudon. The house remained connected to the branch of the Lords of Allaman, particularly the branch that owned the territory of Rochefort (near Aubonne) and bears its name to this day. In 1710, it was reacquired by the Cerjat branch, Lords of Denezy, and remained in their possession until 1933. In 1729 and 1731, Sigismond Cerjat carried out renovations. An auditorium for the German parish of Moudon was built there shortly before. The stair turret was used by the city as the base of a bell tower, which carries the clock that had previously been on the Notre-Dame church. From the beginning of the 19th century, the building was used for various artisanal functions (brewery and vinegar factory, tobacco production). It was acquired by the municipality in 1933 and furnished about fifteen years later to house the Vieux-Moudon Museum (opened in 1950). The last restoration took place in 1989-2000.