Lucens Castle (Lucens, Switzerland)

Dominating the valley and lording over the village of Lucens (population 4,400) stands Lucens Castle. In Medieval times if you wanted to pass through this narrow valley you had to deal with this fortress. 

The castle and grounds aren't open to the public but, I was able to 'sneak" onto to the grounds for a look. To the right is the only way in and out of the castle complex.  

 

I was able to gain access to the grounds thanks to construction workers putting up scaffolding. They have to lug all that equipment via the narrow covered entryway in the previous photo. 

The castle has a long history dating back to the 12th century and has had a myriad of owners. In the 1500's it was taken over by the Canton Bern (cantons are similar to states in the US) and held it for several hundred years--the bear is their symbol. 

Since 1801 it has been in various private hands including a reform school for girls in the 1920's and from 1965-1970 was owned by the Conan Doyle Foundation---which opened a Sherlock Holmes museum. 

Since 1981 it's been owned by an unknown owner who rents the place out for events such as weddings and conferences. 

The view from Lucens Castle to the village below. Leaving the castle I'm confronted by one of the construction workers who says I'm trespassing. Thankfully it's not hard for me to play stupid and pretend I don't understand French--which for the most part I don't. 

Nice creek running through Lucens.

Standing on the bridge in Lucens I take another photo in the other direction. 

Moudon (population 6,000) has a huge Medieval church (Swiss Reformed Church of Saint-Etienne) in its village center that dates back to 1134.

This fountain in Moudon's village center is blind justice. I've been to dozens and dozens of villages in Switzerland and if there's only one fountain--odds are the statue will be blind justice.

That being said about the fountain--on closer inspection I see these characters inhabiting the skirt of  blind justice. Either they are upstanding citizens of the community or are being made fun of--as in crooks. 

View up the hill along the Broye river in Moudon.

Avenches & Payerne, Switzerland

 

It's a rainy morning in the town center of Avenches (population 4,400).

Avenches Castle, with its Renaissance-style facade, has dominated the town since 1175.

Part of tower and wall fortifications of Avenches Castle.

The Romans had a good-sized settlement here before the founding of Avenches. Wow, can you believe the Romans built this amphitheater back in the second century and it's still used for musical events. Located right next door to Avenches Castle, 

Built in 9th century, this monastery complex dominates the center of Payerne (population 9,900) and is connected to the Abbey Church in the next photo. 

Built in the 11th century, this Abbey Church is connected to the previous photo of the monastery complex. See the banner-wielding knight atop the fountain to the left of the church? It dates back to 1542 but, is a replica of the original. 

Saw this frog thing in front of a home. 

I'm cycling through beautiful farmland and keep seeing these barns. They are not your usual barns. 

These barns are abnormally high and I remember reading something about 'em.

Switzerland grows tobacco and this area is the center of it. 

These barns are tall because tobacco leaves are hung from the rafters to dry. Switzerland is wacko in some respects. Why? The Swiss government paid farmers $14 million to grow tobacco and then spends $14 million to combat the consumption of tobacco products!

I've yet to see the insides of one of these many barns. Why? Because they are locked. I can smell tobacco outside the barn. So, under the guise of inquiring about this farmer's pumpkins I turn my gaze to the barn next door.

This is the barn next to the pumpkin patch. I can see tobacco leaves.

Getting closer I can see more tobacco leaves.

And here we go! Those are tobacco leaves drying from the rafters.

These turkeys came running to the fence when I let out my famous "gobble gobble" imitation. 

Gex, France (Part2)

 

It's always great seeing mom and pop circuses still traversing the countryside. In the corral to the right of the bigtop I spot a menagerie of wild beasts including several llamas. 

So, this is why I came to Gex: to check out the Museum of Fire Fighters. Who doesn't like seeing fire trucks?

A variety of fire fighting vehicles on display.

A bunch of these water pumping vehicles date back to the early 1800s!

More fire trucks.

Sampling of uniforms fire fighters wore while fighting fires and when not fighting fires.

Collection of fire helmets from all over Europe.

Collection of fire extinguishers.

Trying to get hook & ladder truck in one shot.

Passing through the spa town of Divonne-les-Bains (population 10,000) I snapped this shot of the clouds building up over the Jura Mountains. In French, bains means bath. 

 I've probably visited thousands of churches in Europe. I've also visited thousands of cemeteries. I just find it fascinating checking out the tombstones. This cemetery is in Divonne-les-Bains near the church. Many of the tombstones you see here date back to the 1800's. In this photo you see two big mausoleums way in the back. The big building to the right in the back is a maintenance building. 

One normally would think these big mausoleums means the person was very rich or very important. This isn't necessarily true. Many people lived a modest or frugal life and when they passed away their money was directed to erect an impressive burial memorial.

This is the mausoleum to the left in the previous photo. I peer inside and see nothing but a crumbling statue of Jesus. No room for a body. This might be a cenotaph, a memorial---an empty tomb with the remains buried elsewhere.

Gex, France (Part1)

Before heading to Gex I'm making a pit stop in Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Why? To grab some goodies at Sebastien Brocard, one of the best pastry and chocolate shops in the whole wide world. 

Saint-Genis-Pouilly, France (population 13,000) sits at the foot of the Jura Mountains. Sebastien Brocard is a member  of Relais Desserts Association, an organization of about 100 pastry chefs and chocolate makers from 19 countries with the overwhelming majority located in France. Supposedly they're the best of the best. I've been to about 20 and found several of them to be only so-so. 

 On the right side see the row of what looks to be round containers with brown topping? That's fondant au chocolat and it has a yummy fudge center.  I make quick work of it. 

My favorite pastry is in the right corner: chocolate almond croissants. Most places stick some chocolate in the center with almond pieces atop. Here, gooey almond paste is layered atop the chocolate inside the croissant making it dangerously good!  

For years macarons were my "go to" sweet treat. 

I'm in the Jura Mountains and approaching Gex, population 13,000. 

It's market day in Gex and several streets are blocked off.

Whoa, the smell from those chickens is intoxicating. It's lunchtime so I buy one. The problem though is with no utensils/plates it's a very messy proposition pulling apart and eating with my hands. However, I've done this many a time and in the saddlebags on my bike there's a bar of soap for washing up afterwards. I still need to find a water fountain before pigging out. 

Jeez, Gex has about a half-dozen water fountains and every one has a red sign posted saying "non potable"---meaning it's not drinkable. How is this possible? I'm way up in the Jura Mountains and shouldn't this mountain water be drinkable? This fountain dates back to 1746. How long ago did this become undrinkable? 

I see this shop on a side street in Gex. It's closed for lunch but I spot guitars and a couple pianos inside.

Love these figurines. Don't know the price. 
 

Buchs, Switzerland

I'm leaving Austria and crossing a bridge over the Rhine river into Switzerland. 
 

This sign tells me there's a castle nearby. Schloss is the German word for castle. 

Gruenenstein Castle dates back to 1280.

Gruenenstein Castle and grounds are rented out for weddings and other events. Some of the castle's rooms have been converted into apartments and are occupied.

I had heard Alstaetten, population 4,100, had a nice old town area. Unfortunately I show up the morning after a big festival. The two main streets were lined with food and booze tents and debris/garbage was everywhere. 

This is an intersection in Alstaetten. You see all those red signs (10 of 'em)? They're all bicycle  direction signs for cycling routes. Some are for touring, others for mountain biking. 

Arriving in Buchs, population 11,000, I spot Werdenberg Castle perched on a hill

The passageway up to the castle takes you past some medieval beauties.

Half-timbered home on the way up.

Still heading up to the castle. 

Castle courtyard. Dating back to 1230, Werdenberg castle was donated to the Canton of St. Gallen in 1956.  Cantons in Switzerland (27 of 'em) are similar to states in the USA. 

View from the castle.