The former abbey church of Sts Peter and Paul is one of the oldest and most prestigious sacred complexes in Switzerland. According to tradition, the foundation of the monastery dates back to the 5th century and is attributed to Saints Roman and Sulpicius.

Romainmôtier experienced a period of prosperity until the 15th century, when in 1536 the local community converted to the Reformation and the monastery was suppressed. The present church was built at the beginning of the 11th century, on a site that already housed two previous sanctuaries, dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries respectively, and is believed to have been commissioned by Saint-Odilon of Cluny. The basilica, with a cruciform plan, has three naves, originally concluded by three semicircular apses. It is an excellent example of Burgundian architecture, a sort of scaled-down copy of the abbey of Cluny. Inside, there is an ambo decorated with interlaced carvings and an inscription, while in the choir, one can admire the lying figure of Prior Henri de Siviriez (14th century) and the fragmentary tomb of Prior Jean de Seyssei, who died in 1432. In addition, the stalls date back to the 15th century. Opposite the church stands the clock tower, built in the 14th century, which was once the gate in the walls that protected the buildings of the convent. Some of these buildings are still standing, such as the outbuildings and the former prior’s house, which was converted in the 16th and 17th centuries to become the residence of the Bernese bailiffs. Next to the tower is Lieutenant Ballival’s house, built in 1684-85 for Jean Pierre Roy, with a roof typical of the Bernese region. The Glayre House, built in the 16th century for André Tachet and later converted in 1762, is another example of historic local architecture. Romainmôtier is also located along the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage road that connected Canterbury to Rome, adding further historical value to the village.