Castles & Prisons and a Mormon church near Bern, Switzerland

I'm in central Switzerland, about 15 miles from Bern (capital of Switzerland). I love cycling around this region as the farmland is absolutely beautiful. Farmhouses have these unusual-looking wooden roofs. 
 

Cycling through Krauchtal (population 2,300)  I spot this massive structure way up on a hill.  Wow, is that a castle?

In the town center I use the zoom lens on my camera to get a closer look. 

Looking for the road up to the castle I start stopping locals for info. This is the German-speaking part of Switzerland and my command of the language is pretty much nil (just like my French). 

I ask this elderly couple how I can get up there. I say "Schloss", which is German for castle, point to my bike and point toward the castle. The couple smile and just nod. Jeez, I stop at a car repair shop and I'm given the same response. I spot a young woman walking her dog and ask if she speaks English, "a bit", she answers. She says the place is a prison. Then, it hits me: What a dummkopf! I've been here before! 

In 2016 I cycled through the town but came via a different route.

Back in 2016 I posted about the prison. It was originally Thorberg Castle (dating back to 1175). It was for many, many years a monastery. In 1893 the castle was turned into a prison with a new cell block built in 1998. Now, it's the only maximum security prison in Switzerland. 

So, here's the deal. I have several Swiss maps and they show historical points such as castles with a tiny symbol of a castle. Hindelbank, a farming community of 2,500 inhabitants, is home to Hindelbank Castle. 

I then go to a website listing castles in Switzerland---hundreds are listed but many are just castle ruins. According to this website Hindelbank Castle is now an administrative building for the only woman's prison in Switzerland and it's "public" as opposed to "private".  

So, after leaving Krauchtal (home to the men's max prison) I cycle about three miles into another valley.

In the distance I think I spot Hindelbank Castle. 

Using the zoom on my camera I can see the castle and what looks to be a prison.

This is the road going up to the prison. To the left of the castle is a parking lot. 

The entrance to the prison is at the end of this road. Lots of barbed wire fencing and two female guards are patrolling the gate. I'm shirtless (it's 90 degrees) and after parking my bike in the parking lot--with the guards eyeballing me-I head over to the castle--thinking there's a separate entrance. Nope, the castle is part of the prison compound. One has to enter via the prison gate.

What the heck! I'm not going to enter the prison! That idiot website was wrong about the castle being open to the public. So my original plan was to snap photos of the castle exterior but, with lots of signs announcing security cameras monitoring the area I nix snapping photos as maybe I'd be detained for suspicious behavior. I could imagine the headline in the local paper: " Shirtless American cyclist in custody for taking forbidden photos of the prison". 

So I end up halfway down the road using the zoom lens to snap photos. The castle dates back to 1720. 

If you google Hindelbank Castle you'll see it's huge with extensive gardens. Don't know if the inmates get to enjoy the grounds. 

I'm a mile from Jegenstorf's (population 5,700) town center and this is the entrance to Jegenstorf Castle. 

Can't get a full picture of the castle as two gigantic trees block the view. Fill my water bottle with the cold water from the fountains. 

Still can't get a full picture of the castle.

Why are those black metallic cardboard-like figures placed there? Though Jegenstorf Castle dates back to the 12th century it's famous for hosting/housing General Henri Guisan during World War ll. 

During World War ll General Henri Guisan was the Supreme commander of the Swiss army (similar to  General Eisenhower being the Supreme commander of Allied forces). Don't forget Switzerland was a neutral country and didn't trust the Germans not to invade. In 1944 Jegenstorf Castle became the command post for General Giusan,

Side view of castle. In the Middle Ages a double moat surrounded the castle.

Rear view of castle. In the pond that's a statue of Minerva (Roman goddess of wisdom).

Other side view of Jegenstorf Castle.

Horse stables and housing for the castle help.

Those are the two gigantic trees obscuring the front of Jegenstorf castle. 

Horse stables near the castle entrance. 

I'm in Zollikofen (population 10,500) and this is a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints (LDS) or a Mormon church. So? Built in 1955, it's the first LDS Church in Europe and the first outside the USA and Canada. 

Nice grounds. Atop the church there's a statue of a man (in gold leaf?)--that's Angel Moroni and he's blowing a trumpet. 

Joseph Smith Jr., founded Mormonism in 1830.

Moudon, National Vintage Tractor Meeting (Vucherens), Switzerland Part 2

Did you know from 1956-1963 Porsche tried their hand at farm tractors? Now collectors will pay big bucks for one.
 

Never heard of Landini. It's an Italian company and have been manufacturing farm tractors since 1884.

It's 10AM and it's starting to get busy at this round tent. Why? It's where beer is on tap.

That red tractor is Volvo--which stopped manufacturing farm machinery in 1979. 

MAN is a German company known for it's trucks.  Until the 1960's the company manufactured farm tractors.

Several of these huge tents have been set-up. Bet they'll be packed later in the day.  

Lots of Huerlimann tractors. Why? It was a Swiss company. Started in 1929 and was bought by an Italian company in 1979.

What's going on here? They're making tunes ringing cow bells.  

Don't know if you've seen Swiss cows wearing these huge bells around their necks--usually when being paraded around. 

I asked an onlooker about the embroidery around the bells and why there's a date on each one. She asked one of the guys the significance of the date and was told it's their birthday. No way, one says 2017--meaning the guy is only nine years old! I bet it's the birthday of the cow. 

Got to lift a cow bell. Wow, can't believe how heavy they are. 

The Saviem tractor disappeared in 1980. Was part of Renault.  

Young kids (boy)s are going crazy with all machinery to check out. Then again, I see so many old timers (you could tell they were former farmers) wandering around enjoying themselves.

As I'm leaving more and more tractors are arriving. 

Moudon, National Vintage Tractor Meeting (Vucherens), Switzerland, Part 1

 

I'm cycling through Moudon (population 4,300) on my way to the farming village of Vucherens (population 500). Way up on the hill are several historical buildings including a prison. 

Using my zoom lens I get a closer look at the former prison--from what I'm told it's now a concert venue. Better go up and check it out. 

There's no longer a castle atop Moudon but still a castle tower.

Chateau de Rochefort dates back to the 13th century. That fountain is quite famous. Called the Moses fountain (also know as Castle Square fountain) dates back to 1559--it's a Swiss Cultural Property of National Importance.

Next door to the chateau is Maison de Denezy (built 1649) and is now houses a museum. 

Heading back down to the town square.

Here's the entrance to the former prison. Now a concert venue. Would love to see the inside. Of course it's not open.  

This fountain in Moudon, signifying blind justice (she is blindfolded), is turned off. Thanks to a drought the fountains have been turned off--can't fill up my water bottle.  

So, my mission today finding the farming village of Vucherens. Why? It's where the National Vintage Tractor Meeting is being held this year with over 800 tractors and other agricultural machinery expected. 

After leaving Moudon I've been cycling up this long hill and wrongly assumed there would be signage directing visitors to this big farming bash--supposedly five miles from Moudon. All of a sudden I hear loud noises and turning around I see this large convoy of tractors.

I end up following the tractors to the site. The blue truck has tractor suspended in the air. 

What a cool place!  Hundreds of tractors of every shape, size and age are here. 

From what I'm told, a vintage tractor means it's more than 30 years old.

Over 40 craft booths are taking advantage of the tractor enthusiasts.

Tractors from Switzerland, France, Belgium and Italy are here. All the car manufacturers tried their hand at building tractors. Fiat is Italian. 

See the red Volvo tractor next to the orange beast?