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.