In the middle of the village of Curtilles, the Way of St. James marker points us left. It's a shame, however, if you don't follow the signpost to the church. The choir of St. Peter's Church dates back to the 13th century, and the bell tower, unique to our region, dates back to the 15th century. From the church hill, there's a beautiful view of Lucens Castle on the other side of the valley. Those not particularly familiar with Swiss history will be particularly surprised to discover the significance of the enormous Bernese coat of arms. Until the great upheaval of the French Revolution, the canton of Vaud was part of Bern, and the castle was ruled by its governor. The beautiful square in front of the church is an inviting place to take a rest.
If you continue along the marked route, you will soon notice a long, modern building on the other side of the valley.
The underground experimental nuclear power plant Lucens (VAKL) was built here during the 1960s, and on January 29, 1968, electricity was generated using nuclear power for the first time in Switzerland. After a short period of operation, a serious incident occurred on January 21, 1969. Problems with the cooling system led to a partial core meltdown. Radioactive gases escaped into the cavern, which was subsequently isolated and sealed.
A place to think about the limits of technology.

Starting point:
Village center Curtilles, the way to the church is signposted

Time required:
Including a small detour: ½ hour

Information: www.curtilles.ch/eglisehist.htm
The key to the church is held by Jacqueline Perruset. She lives in the first house on the small side street directly in front of the church and is not listed in the phone book. The key can also be picked up at the Café Fédéral, 1521 Curtilles, 021 906 73 03 (directly on the Way of St. James). It is recommended that you secure access to the church in advance.

Public transport:
Lucens train station, 20 minutes walk