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.