A Rougemont Tour: Walk in the Footsteps of Louis Saugy

Discover the enchanting village of Rougemont through the eyes of one of its most famous residents, artist Louis Saugy. On this 40-minute walking tour, you’ll hear Saugy share anecdotes about the art of papercutting, his life as a postman, and what inspired him as an artist later in life. Born in 1871, Saugy is also one of the precursors of the art of decoupage in the Pays-d’Enhaut alps, where this picture-perfect Swiss village is located.

Starting outside the Rougemont tourism office, you’ll wind your way around quaint wooden chalets, and along the Sarine river before returning to the village centre. Dotted throughout the walk are several panels illustrating Saugy’s work, which show what life in the mountainside village was like in the 1900s.

Along the way, you’ll be seduced by the beauty of the village’s architecture, including the 400-year-old granary. You’ll also see the 16th-century castle, Château de Rougemont, and the 11th-century church of St Nicolas, both of which were built by the monks of Cluny and are listed as important cultural monuments.

By the end of this short tour, you’ll have seen a side to the village that you probably didn’t know about, and gained a new appreciation for the unique artform of papercutting.