Aigle, Switzerland (UCI, golf, castle)

 

I'm making my way to Aigle but stop in Monthey's town center to admire the covered wooden bridge (built 1809).

Monthey, population 16,000, stopped allowing vehicles on the bridge many years ago and is now reserved for pedestrians and cyclists with their bikes.

Here's another view of bridge.

Having visiting hundreds and hundreds of castles over the years I'm disappointed in Monthey castle.  Why? It's on an elevated position in Monthey's center but, nobody can see it as it's surrounded by other buildings. This is the entrance.

Can't get a faraway picture as the castle is squished in. Usually castles are up on a hill or occupying a prime spot where it's visible. When it was built in the 13th century Monthey castle had no problem "sticking out" as it lorded over the area. Now it's surrounded by buildings and isn't visible from below. 

Here's a backside view of Monthey castle. It's been owned by the town since the 1900's and is used for cultural events. 

This is the view from above Monthey castle.

I've been to Aigle (population 7,000) many, many times but, have never been to UCI's World Cycling Center. Union Cycling International (UCI) is the world governing body for sports cycling. It's not too hard to find as I follow the bicycles. 

This one stands at a roundabout.

This one points me in the right direction.

Two more bikes at a roundabout. The large building in the background is UCI's indoor velodrome.  

This last bike takes me to the UCI's headquarters. 

View of structure housing velodrome.

BMX bike training course.

The whole complex was built in 2002 with UCI's offices connected to the velodrome.

Here's the track where cyclists go round and round. The blue middle part is used by the Swiss  Gymnastic Federation for training --trampolines are wheeled out. For something like $70 newbies to track cycling can receive an introduction course to use the track (they furnish a bike). 

It seats about 600. See the table with white cloth? The place can be rented out for a variety of reasons. Actually a business is having a luncheon today: cocktails here followed by food in a full scale restaurant--open to the public.

About 20 years ago I visited the outdoor velodrome in Lausanne (it has now been closed for years). Nobody was around so I took my bike (loaded down with four panniers) and did a few laps around the track. It was pretty cool and scary going up and down the elevated track. 

The training center is used by all kinds of bikers. 

Good place to practice your craft. 

The World Cycling Center complex backs up to the Rhone river. A nice paved road (restricted to cyclists and pedestrians) runs along the river bank. 

Leaving the velodrome and heading back to central Aigle I unexpectedly come across Montreux Golf club. This year the club is celebrating 125 years. Founded by English tourists the 18 hole course is pretty much flat as a pancake.  

Though private, it's open to the public. The funny part of this: the town of Montreux lies several towns away--about 10 miles.  

Usually the course would have great views of the Alps but, it's an overcast day. Trivia: Switzerland is home to about 100 golf courses--with two thirds being 18 holes. The USA? Over 16,000.

Aarberg, Switzerland (Rolex and covered wooden bridge)

I'm in the German-speaking part of central Switzerland. French is the language in southern Switzerland, German is the language in northern and central Switzerland with the eastern part of Switzerland being Italian-speaking. 

Cycling through Nidau's town center I pass Nidau castle.  

Dating back to the 13th century, Nidau castle is the administrative center for the area.

Used to be three of these round medieval towers guarding Nidau castle. 

Passing through Tauffelen (population 3,000) I come across a large complex of buildings smack in the middle of town. Hmmm, what does Laubscher do? 

There's another similar-size large Laubscher building behind this green glass structure. This family-owned business has 240 employees and its expertise has expanded.

Laubscher got its start back in 1846 manufacturing watch screws for the watch industry but has diversified into manufacturing precision turned parts for the medical technology industry. 

I've mentioned (many times) spending two summers visiting more than 130 watch and watch related companies. I learned only a very few watch manufacturers are vertical integrated. Parts are outsourced or contracted out. Switzerland is famous for precision tools and this is a prime example of that. On the company's website I count six family members working here. 

The watch world is a very secretive industry and I'm 100% sure if I were to go inside and ask for names of some of the watch companies they supply watch screws Laubscher would decline to answer. Since it's Sunday I guess I'll never know.  

As a side story. I know Zenith is a vertical integrated watch manufacturer. You would think Rolex, the Goliath in the industry would also be fully vertical integrated but I read they still outsource several watch parts.

Another side story. Have you noticed Rolex seems to be the official sponsor of just about everything? Jeez, tennis, golf, yachting, motor sports, equestrianism. Principal sponsor of opera houses, concert recitals, mountain expeditions and it goes on and on. How is this possible?

Hans Wilsdorf (1881-1960) founded Rolex. Wilsdorf had no kids and his wife died. In 1960 the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation was created and given 100% ownership of the company.  So, with no heirs, estimates of 90% of the immense profits from Rolex are plowed back into the company---with vast amounts being spent on marketing, advertising and sponsorships.  

Headquartered in Geneva (where Rolex is located) the secretive foundation is limited to doing things in the Geneva area. The foundation was recently in the news for buying another hotel (they've now bought three 2 or 3 star hotels) to house homeless in the area. The foundation also gave millions for a new bridge in Geneva. 

 

Cycling through little farming villages I see Autumn goodies are available.

Lots of color.

Jeez, I go down the road a bit and see more roadside stands. It's the honor system where you put money in a lock box.

I'm waiting for the light to change so I can cycle over the covered wooden bridge into Aarberg's town center.

The wooden covered bridge dates back to 1568.

This is part of Aarberg's huge town square. That's Aarberg castle on the right. It dates back to the 13th century and is now Aarberg's (population 3,900) town hall. 

Part of Aarberg's town square. 

Still part of Aarberg's town square. 

Well I gotta check out this conditorei (pastry shop). 

It's big and the seating area in the rear is packed.  

Closer look at some of the goodies.

If you can read the names--most of the mousse sweets contain alcohol. The cappuccino mousse cup on the right contains cognac. I make quick work of the liqurer mousse cup in the rear behind the kiwi/banana cups.

View of the covered wooden bridge from the Aare river.

On the edge of Aarberg I come across this massive factory complex. What is it?

This place makes sugar. It's owned by Schweizer Zucker AG and has been here since 1912. What's in the rail cars? Sugar beets. The fall season is harvest time and over 1.5 million tons of sugar beets will be processed here. The place runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The facility is gigantic and takes 15 minutes to cycle around the perimeter of the property. That giant pile of brown things are sugar beets. 

Leaving Aarberg I pass a roundabout. It took me a minute to figure out what the heck is occupying the center of this prime spot. It's the lowly sugar beet, the vegetable responsible for being the town's biggest employer for more than 100 years. 

The back roads between Thun and Bern, Switzerland

Cycling past a village I spot a empty cornfield filled with dozens of cars parked across from a big barn. Better check it out.   
 

It's autumn and villages are celebrating the seasonal change with fests. 

Lots of pumpkins, gourds and strange-looking vegetables to choose from. Note: pumpkins and gourds are technically fruit but fall into the vegetable category. 

Huge tents are sheltering visitors. Sausages are being grilled and is smell is hypnotic. Unfortunately I recently ate. 

I come across this sign "Schloss Kiesen". These brown signs signify something of historic importance in Switzerland and it's normally open for visits so I make a detour. 

Hmmm, that's strange. A sign on the left of the driveway says "privat". That's no problem for me as I can plead ignorance of the word "privat".

Wow, look at this place. It dates back to the 17th century. It looks really rundown. 

It was empty for 20 years (from 1975-1995). In 1995 a local quarry company bought the property. What the heck are they waiting for?--bring it back to its glory!

In the same village as Kiesen castle (Kiesen, population 1,000) I come across this museum. The second floor is an apartment and a woman on the balcony yells out the museum is only open two afternoons a week.

The small building on the left is part of the museum. So, what is the museum?

Wow, this dinky museum is Switzerland's National Dairy Museum. What's here? It houses, in its original state, the first cheese dairy built in 1815. Emmental cheese (which you can buy in the USA along with Gruyere) is produced in this region. 

I'm approaching Worb, population 11,000, and stop a couple cycling. I ask, "Is that a castle up on the hill in the distance?".  I learn I'm right and wrong. Up on the hill to the left you can see a brown pointed roof peeking out--that's Worb Castle. On top of the hill to the right--that's just a big house--it's owned by a wealthy former newspaper owner. "Can I visit the castle?, I ask. Turns out it's privately-owned.

Of course I have to cycle up to Worb Castle (dates back to 1130) to get a better look. After having visited hundreds and hundreds of castles I've learned finding the right way up to a  castle can be a frustrating ordeal. This road ends at an unrelated barn so, the search is on. 

I found the correct way up. This is the entrance to the castle.

Closer view of the castle's entrance. I spot six mailboxes to the right so, I'm assuming (though I've been known to assume wrongly) it's been divided into six apartments.

I'm passing through Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and this is the Capitol Building. I've posted about Bern many times so, why this photo? Normally when I'm here the square in front of the building is filled with demonstrations, protesters, market stalls etc... messing up my opportunity to snap of photo without all the clutter. One time it was jam-packed with farmers and their tractors complaining about something. Note: Swiss farmers are heavily subsidized by the government. 

I've passed many a chicken farm but, this modern range-free facility about 10 miles from Bern looks impressive.

The chickens come and go on their own out of the new building with a huge expanse of fenced-in land to roam. Don't know why they hang out in the dirt instead of all that green grass in the distance. 

The chickens reside in the far-end of this building. I go inside this door and find a self-serve shop. Would like to know what's upstairs--could it be an apartment? 

At the far end of this mini-shop I see a sign reading "Little Town Coffee Shop". It's closed.  

A large selection of eggs are for sale but what intrigues is the display of various size eggs. Stores normally carry medium, large and extra large size. Is that a turkey egg at the end?

I wonder why turkey eggs aren't sold in stores. I learn turkey eggs are just as good as chicken eggs. So what's the problem? Turkeys lay eggs only twice a week and take up a lot more room on a farm (thanks for the info Google).