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.