Neuchatel, Switzerland (Part 1)

 

Neuchatel (population 33,000) has some impressive fountains in the city center/old town area.  That's a lion atop. 

As I've mentioned many times, besides being a place to get drinking water, wash clothes and socialize (gossip)--these colorful fountains were a way for a town to show off its wealth during medieval times. 

Neuchatel fronts Lake Neuchatel and in the background you can see the start of the Jura Mountains. 

Harbor view.

I like this knight. These fountains are great for filling up my water bottles. 

This fountain dates back to 1548. 

Occupying prime lakefront properties are multiple buildings own by Philip Morris International, the big cigarette company. Cycling past, the smell of tobacco is in the air. About 3,000 employees work here. The black-glassed building closest is a research facility with about 600 employees. What the heck are they researching? How to make cancer causing smelly cigarettes less dangerous? The other buildings are tobacco manufacturing facilities.

Philip Morris International has the rights to sell Marlboro cigarettes anywhere OUTSIDE the United States. The company has over 82,000 employees, revenues last year of $35 billion and sell their cancer sticks in 180 countries. 

Though Philip Morris International has their corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT, their CEO hangs his hat in operational headquarters located in Lausanne, Switzerland (where I live). 

Why do the big cigarette companies like Philip Morris International, BAT (British American Tobacco) and Japan Tobacco have their European headquarters in Switzerland?  If you said for tax purposes you maybe partly right. In the USA lawsuits are quite common. Well, it's very hard filing lawsuits in Switzerland.  

I enjoy living in Switzerland but, if I had to name the biggest negative: the high number of smokers!  They say 24% of the population smokes but, I say it's much higher--closer to 40-45%.

Spotted Vaumarcus Castle cycling through the village of Vaumarcus (population 253). 

Dating back to 1476, Vaumarcus Castle is owned by the village and rented out for weddings and conferences. 

Vineyards and Lake Neuchatel way in the distance.

Cycled through a little village and here's another "blind justice or justice is blind"water fountain. 

This "blind justice or justice is blind" fountain has been here since 1628!