Lake Schiffenen and Murten/Morat, Switzerland

I'm cycling around Lake Schiffenen, a long narrow man-made lake (1963) lined with steep cliffs--similar to a fjord. It's roughly 25 miles round the lake. It's hard to snap photos due to dense forests and clearings are few. I took this directly into the sun thus the sun spots.

I'm on the lookout for three castles in the area but all are privately-owned.

 

Lots of beautiful farmland. These goats are nosey. Coming right up to the fence to check me out after snapping this picture. 

Making a five mile detour from the lake to revisit the walled-in medieval town of Murten/Morat, population 8,000. Was here back in 2018 and it's a tour bus stop.

No plaque to identify the soldier but the fountain dates back to 1814.

Last remaining town gate (Bern gate). Dates back to 1239 though this one was built in 1750. 

Huge clock needs to be wound every 24 hours and the time is still spot on!

A main street through Murten/Morat. The town goes by two names as it's officially bilingual (French/German). 

Murten/Morat town hall. 

The courtyard inside town hall. 

View from Murten/Morat town hall of Lake Morat (or Lake Murten). I cycled round the lake during my 2018 visit. 

Another street within town's walls.

Guard tower.

Medieval walls still enclose Murten/Morat.

Don't know what's the deal with white stuff. Filled my water bottle with ice cold water. 

Another section of wall guarding the town. 

Another street view. 

I'm back to Lake Schiffenen and it's an up and down ride along rolling hills. I spot what looks to be a castle tower off in the distance.

That must be Petit-Vivy Castle. One of the three I'm on the lookout for. 

Found the hidden road leading to castle. Was looking to get closer view but multiple signs announce it's private property. 

Used the zoom feature to capture this view. The backside of Petit-Vivy Castle sits on a high steep bluff overlooking Lake Schiffenen. Dates back to the 13th century and the walls are 11 feet thick!

Had no luck finding the other two castles. 

As mentioned, it's difficult taking photos of Lake Schiffenen because there're no roads running along the lake and much of it is blocked by dense forest. Did find a clearing to snap this.  

Lake Champex, Switzerland

I'm about 10 miles from the Swiss/Italian border and I'm cycling up to the mountain village of Lake Champex (population 600). 
 

Entering the village of Lake Champex.

Whoa, rounding the bend after the welcome sign in the previous photo I see military equipment parked on the side of the road.

It seems I've come upon Lake Champex Artillery Fort.

Built between 1940-1943, the fort was designed to guard the Great St. Bernard Pass against invasion by Italy during World War II. 

We aren't talking about a rinky-dink fort. Tunnels totaling almost a half-mile zig-zag inside the steep mountain side.  The place could accommodate 300 soldiers.  Two 75 mm guns and eight 105 mm guns were pointed towards the mountain pass.

The fort was decommissioned in 1998. Tours are given but, it's not open today and you need an appointment. I've visited several decommissioned WWII mountain forts in Switzerland and they are fantastic! 

I'm standing on the patio deck of a hotel directly above the artillery fort. In the distance is the Great St. Bernard Pass---which is where the artillery is pointed. 

Unfortunately the mountain face is sheer and there's no way to hike down and catch a peek at the gun placements.  

This is a view from the hotel patio toward another road through the mountains but, doesn't go to Italy. 

Lake Champex.

The water coming out of the fountain is ice cold!

Another view of Lake Champex

Main drag through Lake Champex.

Village has one bakery and take a pass as nothing looks good. 

Colorful exterior of restaurant .

So, I cycled up to Lake Champex and now will be heading down the backside of the mountain. 

Coming down the backside I pass probably more than 50 cyclists coming up. Why so many coming up this way? A heatwave has been hitting Europe the past week with temperatures everyday hitting 100 plus. Turns out the backside road is in the shade. Wish a local would have clued me in. 

The town of Bovernier has a giant bee(?) alongside the busy road. Don't know if that gets tourists to make a beeline to the exit and check out the town. 

Jaun and Gstaad, Switzerland

The day starts in Broc (population 2,500). I'll be cycling up a mountain, traverse the mountain pass (Jaun Pass), drop down the other side of the mountain to the jet-set ski resort of Gstaad (population 3,000) and end up again near the castle you see in this photo----that's Gruyere Castle. 
 

The road up the mountain.

Doesn't matter which country I'm in (Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland) I see farmers driving these orange trucks up and down very steep mountain slopes harvesting grass for animal feed. Usually have four tires on the rear. I'm just amazed I've never seen one overturn.

Entering the mountain farming village of Jaun (population 600).

One of Jaun's two churches.

Church cemetery.

Notice the wooden headstones seem to be identical. However, you would be wrong.   

See the woodcarving? This guy was a farmer as that's a carving of one of those orange trucks shown in an earlier photo. On the right of Jesus there's the man handling either sheep or small cows.

Yvette was a knitter as the carving to the right of Jesus shows her knitting. 

This guy was a farmer--shown milking a cow on the left and a cow in front of his home.

This woman must have played the accordian and I assume that's her home on the right.

This is a farming village and most of the carvings on the tombstones depict the farming culture.

One other note that I've mentioned in other blogs. In many parts of Switzerland graves are dug up after 50 years with the newly opened spaces to be used by recently deceased. Have yet to find someone to tell me what happens to the dug up unearthed bones. 

I'm sitting on a bench in Jaun eating a sandwich. See the waterfall in the distance?  On the right the pointed roof is the village's second church.  

Closer view of waterfall. There's a woman to the right of the falls snapping a picture.

Leaving Jaun and heading up to the pass. Yep, it's open for traffic.

Looking back towards Jaun. 

Reached the mountain pass.

Making my way to Gstaad.

It's pretty quiet on Gstaad's main shopping street as it's lunchtime. 

Another view of Gstaad's shopping street.

That's Gstaad's famous Palace Hotel on the hill.  

I'm almost back to the day's starting point. That's Gruyere Castle in the distance.