Blonay Castle, Grave Robbers & Chaplin's World, Switzerland

I'm way above Lake Geneva in Blonay (population 5,200), a well-to-do suburb of Vevey. What's in Vevey? That's where Nestle, the world's largest food company has its headquarters. 

This is Blonay Castle. Built in 1175, it used to have a moat around it. Can't go inside as it's private.

Hard to take photos as trees surround Blonay Castle. 

This is the entrance to Blonay Castle. 

View of Blonay Castle from higher up.  That's Lake Geneva in the background. 

This roundabout in Blonay has an unusual display. I then realize it's a mini Blonay Castle.

View from the other side of the roundabout with mini Blonay Castle.

A few blocks further there's a mini replica of a church in Blonay. Don't know what it's made out of but it isn't cardboard as it must be able to handle the elements.

Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) spent the last 20 years of his life living in this impressive 30-acre estate in Corsier-sur-Vevey (population 3,300) a village above Lake Geneva. During his heyday silent movie actor Chaplin was the most famous person in the world.

In 2016, similar to Elvis Presley's Graceland, Chaplin's World was opened. 

Entering Chaplin's World. The red farmhouse used to be accommodations for Chaplin's employees and now houses a cafe called The Tramp.

Manor de Ban (built in 1839) was Chaplin's home.

Backside view of the house.

View toward park-like grounds. On the left is concrete building housing Hollywood-style interactive movie studio. 

Outside eating area of The Tramp cafe.

After leaving Chaplin's World I head down the hill about a mile to the village cemetery where Charlie Chapin is buried. 

Here's a closer look. Notice the hat and cane above the tombstone. On the left is Oona Chaplin, his fourth wife.

But, there's a lot more to this. Chaplin died in 1977. In 1978 two unemployed mechanics (from Poland & Bulgaria) dug up his casket and moved it (with Chaplin's remains inside) about 20 miles away to a cornfield where they reburied him. 

Charlie Chaplin's widow Oona was contacted and the two guys attempted to extort a ransom ($600,000) for Chaplin's return. Charlie Chaplin had died a very rich man. Oona inherited $100 million ($550 million in today's dollars). 

After 78 days the authorities arrested the two mechanics. Problem was they couldn't remember where they buried Chaplin. Luckily the heavy oak casket had metal handles and using metal detectors authorities retrieved the casket.

Chaplin was reburied in the cemetery but to prevent this from happening again his casket was encased in seven feet of reinforced concrete and a huge concrete slab was placed on top. 

Colorful roundabout.

Another view of roundabout. 

Grandson Castle, Yverdon Castle, sweets & more, Switzerland (Part 2)

So, if you recall in Part 1 it looked like there might be a chateau up on a hill.  Chateau in French translates to large country house, mansion, manor house or castle.  
 

Looks like I'm right. I'm in the village of Chamblon (population 560) and come across Allee du Chateau which translates to "avenue/driveway to chateau".  

Built in the 18th century Chateau Chamblon has had a variety of owners. Entrance to chateau. Notice the ironwork. In 1925 it was bought by a hospital association. It's now a treatment & rehabilitation hospital----which is set to close at the end of this year.

Chateau Chamblon must have been pretty spectacular in its early days with extensive formal gardens.

The next hill after leaving Chateau Chamblon I come upon Champvent Castle. Better go check it out.

 

Champvert Castle was built in 1266 by Henry Grandson. Remember Grandson Castle in the previous post? Henry was a descendent of the Grandson family. It's only a dozen miles from the village of Champvert (population 300) to Grandson.  

You'll notice Champvert Castle, Yverdon Castle and Grandson Castle all have the same look. Known as Savoyard square fortresses they feature rectangular walls and four cylinder-shaped corner towers. 

Champvert Castle has had many, many owners over the years. In the 1980's it was bought by businessman Karl Leister. In 1993 Leister died and his wife lived there until her passing in 2025.  Don't know what's the status now--empty? for sale? or family member living there. 

This is the gated entrance to Champvert Castle.

Champvert Castle isn't visible from most sides thanks to lots of trees. I'm standing in a vineyard next to the property and here's the view. Way in the distance is Lake Neuchatel. 

I do find this secondary entrance to Champvert Castle and can see a large expanse of grounds.

Yep, the castle grounds could easily accommodate a helipad. 

 

Wasn't planning on cycling through Orbe (population 5,000) but was having a problem with my bike. The bike mechanic said to return in 20 minutes. 

Streets were blocked off and some kind of festival was going on as I wandered around.

Oh, oh, passed these guys----looks like there will be some serious horn blowing.

The medieval round tower (built 1233) along with a square tower are all that remains of Orbe Castle. 

View of Orbe Temple. Built in the 12th century. Now called Reformed Church of Notre-Dame.  

Wow, haven't seen one of these guys in a long time. He's real but usually see them in touristy areas. It's fun to watch little kids approach him (thinking he's a statue) and see kids freak out when he moves.

Fall season is here and several of Orbe's street are celebrating the change.

Grandson Castle, Yverdon Castle, sweets & more, Switzerland (Part 1)

Grandson Castle lords over the main street through Grandson (population 3,000). Why? This medieval beauty was built on the shore of Lake Neuchatel to control the coastal road.

Side view of Grandson Castle.

Yep, those are train tracks passing next to the castle. Until 1875 water from Lake Neuchatel lapped those castle walls. In 1875 the level of Lake Neuchatel was lowered to reduce flood risk in the area. 

Entrance to Grandson Castle.

Tourist entrance to Grandson Castle. Since the 1980s the castle has been owned by a private foundation. A two year renovation was recently completed. 

Here's a view of Grandson Castle from a hill. That's Lake Neuchatel in the background.

I've hit Yverdon (population 29,000) on market day and the city center is hopping. Yverdon-les-Bains is the correct name with "les Bains" translating to "the baths"--meaning it's a spa town.

 

I'm in the old town area of Yverdon to check out Gerber Wyss, a patisserie/bakery/chocolatier.

Lots of breads and chocolate goodies but, I'm more interested in the sweets. 

 

Hmm, chocolate brownie, lemon tart and Paris-Brest. Which to choose? 

Why is it called Paris-Brest? Created in 1910 for the Paris-Brest-Paris bicycle race--which still goes on today. It's supposed to be shaped like a bicycle wheel. It's sort-of-like a cream puff with a filling of pastry cream, butter and hazelnut praline cream but there're so many variations. 

So it seems Gerber Wyss has created a mini-food empire here. You can see the salmon-colored boulangerie building from my earlier picture. To the left is the Gerber Wyss coffee cafe and to the left of that is the Gerber Wyss chocolate shop.  However, that's not all. 

At the end of the street is the Gerber Wyss one Michelin star restaurant. Checking the restaurant's window I see that starting in October they're having a wild game menu. It's not unusual in Switzerland for restaurants to have wild game on the menu in the fall. Heck, it's also seasonal in supermarkets-starting last week you can now buy (already cooked) wild boar and deer in a red wine sauce. 

It's an eight course menu in French but I can decipher some of it. Wild game includes hare, mountain antelope and feral pigeons. What?? Feral pigeons? do they shoot those off of telephone poles? Why not quail or pheasant? I'm sure the food is fantastic. The cost for this feast? 250 Swiss francs or $300 per person. 

Yverdon Castle, which dates back to the 13th century, is undergoing renovations. This medieval castle has four towers.

Side view of Yverdon Castle.

Another side view. Yverdon Castle is now a cultural center with museum, library and conference rooms. 

Leaving Yverdon I spot up on a hill (to the left of the tree forest) what looks to be copper roofing. Could it be a chateau?  A chateau (in French) can be a large county house, mansion, manor house or a castle.  Better check it out. 

 

However, before heading up the hill I pull over and sample the sweets I bought earlier. Whoa! both are dangerously good!