Cyclist Paul's Travels: Around the outskirts of Fribourg, Switzerland

I've been to Fribourg (population 43,000) many times and posted photos back in 2003 of its impressive medieval old town. Cycling around an industrial business park on the outskirts of Fribourg I unexpectedly come upon a large Richemont multi-building complex. Richemont is a luxury goods giant with over $23 billion in revenues. A dozen high-end watch names such Cartier, IWC, Piaget and Jaeger-Le Coultre belong to Richemont.

Back in 2003 and 2004 I cycled around Switzerland visiting the head offices of more than 100 Swiss watch companies. The majority of watch companies have their manufacturing operations around Geneva, Bienne or the Jura mountains and Fribourg isn't in that sphere. Intrigued I tried walking into the reception building but a security guard came outside and gave me very little info as to what goes on here.

I cycled around the Richemont complex and it's huge. I talked to an employee walking between buildings and was told it's a distribution center with more than 1,500 employees. Jeez, what do they distribute finished watches? watch parts? which watch brands?

Not far from Richemont I come across a factory for Villars Chocolates. Built in 2013, the factory is shut down for summer vacation and a worker says they have a factory chocolate store just down the road.

Villars chocolates dates back to 1901. This huge brick complex was where chocolate was manufactured and in the early 1900's more than 1,200 employees worked here.

The company sold the massive brick factory but still operates a store called the Chocolate Cafe.

Inside the store.

More chocolate.

and more chocolate.

Many Swiss chocolate makers sell their chocolate in these collectable tins.

A photo from the backside of the former Villars chocolate factory. The complex is a designated historical structure which I think means it's protected and can't be torn down.