Avully Castle, Brenthonne, France

Rain the next seven days is forecast (April showers bring May flowers) so I wanted to get in a good bike ride. I'm in France, about 15 miles from Geneva, Switzerland, and having a fun time cycling on hilly backcountry roads. I spot this castle.

The front gate is closed so I opt to check out the backside.

This sign is posted on the rear entrance--which is unlocked. Hmm, looks like it's open for visits but not today.

Avully Castle dates back to the 12th century and was originally built as a fortified home. Over the centuries it has morphed into a castle.

There's a moat around the castle--though the water is an unsightly green.

That iron gate is an entrance. 

The castle sits on 37 acres. Part of castle grounds. Upon returning home I do research and find it's privately owned and is a B&B with the venue being available for weddings, conferences etc...

This metal horse with its colorful flower bonnet stands at the entrance to a horse farm. 
 

Crossing back into Switzerland I pass this chateau up on a crest. What does it overlook? Wine vineyards.

The chateau also overlooks fields of grape seeds---which are harvested and eventually made into grape seed oil and grape seed extracts. 

Evian-les-Bains, France

I live in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city of 130,000 fronting Lake Geneva. Directly across the lake stands the upscale spa town of Evian-les-Bains, France (population 9,000). In France any town ending in "les-Bains" means it's a spa town. 

Lake Geneva is big--it'a about 100 miles to drive completely around. Lausanne and Evian-les-Bains each lie about halfway around the lake. It's a 35 minute ferry ride between the two and this was taken from the ferry on its approach to Evian.

Evian is very steep. I cycle up to "the Source" where I fill my water bottles with water spouting from a spigot on the mosaic tiled wall. Since 1903 it has been spewing refreshing 52 degree water.  

Tourists photograph this spot and locals line up to fill jugs with free water at "the Source"! Why? This is the origin of Evian bottled mineral water.

This is the view one sees turning around after filling water bottles from "the Source". Built in 1905, this building was a "refreshment bar" where people hung out. It's been under renovation for quite a while and is supposedly due to reopen shortly. Notice the beautiful and elaborate woodwork. 

After filling my water bottles I head to my favorite patisserie and grab a few treats. 

Evian has multiple high-end hotels.

This is the backside of the 5- star Hotel Royal.

The Hotel Royal's putting green with a great view across the lake. Every year the Hotel Royal plays host to the Evian Championship, one of the five major championships in women's golf and the only major in Continental Europe. 

This is Hotel La Verniaz, a beautiful boutique hotel farther up past Hotel Royal. 

In the summer (when trees and foliage are in full bloom) it's a great place to eat. I brought Heidy here years ago for a birthday lunch. 

So, who owns Hotel La Verniaz, the Hotel Royal, the nearby Hotel Ermitage, Evian Resort Golf Club, the Casino d'Evian (largest themed casino in Europe) in the city center and Evian bottled water? 

Danone, the big French company best known for Danone yogurt and Evian mineral bottled water is the owner. 

This structure houses a funicular. It' has been taking locals and tourists up and down the steep slopes of Evian since 1907. Unfortunately it only operates during the summer.

Here's a view of the funicular's tracks. 

This spiffy-looking chateau is situated about 10 miles from Evian.  It's private but, I talk to a woman who live's here.  

The chateau is over 900 years old and has now been divided into various apartments. 

Beautiful tulips in bloom at a round-about in Vevey, Switzerland. 

A fountain in Vevey, Switzerland (dates back to 1839). I like to fill my water bottles here as the water is nice and cold. 

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.