It's Saturday and there's a weekend festival in downtown La Chaux-de-Fonds, population 38,000. The main drag through town is blocked off with food stalls and a carnival taking over. That would probably explain why there's no water spraying out of this beautiful fountain---note the turtles. **Don't forget you can click on each image and it'll enlarge. Nestled in a valley smack dab in the middle of the Jura mountains, La Chaux-de-Fonds is also known as the "Siberia of Switzerland". From what I've heard winters can be long, cold and overcast (yikes!).
The whole city of La Chaux-de-Fonds has been designated a UNESCO site. Le Corbusier (1887-1965), one of the world's most famous architects was born here. This house is is called "Maison blanche" or White house. Le Corbusier designed the house in 1911.
Le Corbusier was only 24 years old when designed "Maison blanche". Who was the house for? His parents. By the way, his parents had to move out after 10 years to a more affordable modest home down the steep hillside.
Just around the corner from "Maison blanche" is another of Le Corbusier's works. Villa Jaquemet was built in 1908. Jeez, Le Corbusier was only 21 years old!
It's fun cycling along the heavily forested steep hillsides of the city.
These aren't fancy villas like the two Le Corbusier properties but, quite a few wood chalets are tucked away in the forest.
Why the heck would these people want a Tyrannosaur rex in their front yard is beyond me!
A half-block from the Tyrannosaur rex stands this cool-looking watchtower(?) home with a clock face in the middle. How old is it? Does somebody live there? Down the street I meet an older couple in their front yard---who look like they've lived there for years. The wife speaks English and says she knows nothing about the place except that it's part of a compound located on the other side of a deep canyon. Jeez, how could this couple not be curious of its history?
So, I make my way around the canyon to find this view. I wonder if the tower is used as a guest cottage?
This street is named Rue Louis-Joseph-Chevrolet. Why? Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941), co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911, was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The main fire station in La Chaux-de-Fonds is having an open house today and showing off all their fire fighting equipment including new and old trucks. I'm dating this one from the 1960's?
Thank's for your visit!
ReplyDeleteCome back when you want!