Laufen, Switzerland (Ricola)

 

The Birs river flows right through downtown Laufen, population 5,600.

The main street in Laufen's old town.

I was snapping a photo of one of Laufen's two remaining town gates when the following happened.

These two are on their way to be married in the church in the previous photo. 

Ricola, the maker of cough drops, breath mints and tea bags, was founded here in Laufen and this is a company store. 

When you open the door to enter the shop a recording of a man's voice sings out "Ricola"--like in the commercials I'm sure you've heard. 

Besides Ricola's products you can purchase lots of paraphernalia. Those look like Green Bay Packers ski caps.  

This is the ceiling inside the Ricola store.

Ricola's factory complex on the edge of town. 

Cycling around another part of Laufen I spot this Ricola factory which looks pretty new. Ricola was founded back in 1930 and has over $300 million in revenues.  

Passing through Zwingen (population 2,300) I spot Zwingen castle. This medieval complex dates back to the 13th century. It was originally built on an island but over the years part of the Birs river has dried up.

After getting through the gate you cross over a covered wooden bridge to reach the castle with its circular tower. 

Delemont, Switzerland

Delemont's (population 12,000) old town area lies on an elevated site above the town. Porte de Porrentruy (1756) is one of two remaining town gates. The red round tower is home to an art museum.

This late Renaissance style fountain dates back to 1583. Who's the half-naked guy atop? It's a savage (wild man)--the town's emblem. They had a sense of humor more than 400 years ago!

Here's another Renaissance style fountain dating back to 1576. It's the Virgin Mary. 

The Virgin Mary fountain stands in front of the town's former city hall (1742). 

Jeez, here's another beautiful Renaissance style fountain dating back to 1574. It's a lion in case you can't see.

As I've mentioned many, many times back in medieval times fountains were where locals obtained their drinking water, washed their clothes and, caught up in the gossip. These fancy fountains were also a way for a prosperous town to "show off". 

This is the second of the two remaining town gates. Porte au Loup dates back to 1775. 

It's market day and I took this photo because at the other end it's too full of market stalls.

The baroque-style Prince-Bishops castle dates back to 1724. I'm in the formal garden area on the backside of the castle. The front of the castle is enveloped in huge tents. Why? There's a festival going on. It's now houses the town's elementary schools.   

Who's this guy? It's a Roman warrior and dates back to 1577.

Romont, Switzerland

Getting to the hilltop medieval town of Romont (population 5,400) involves cycling up a steep road.   
 

Castle dates back to 1260.

Another view of castle's exterior.

Inside the castle grounds with one of the two remaining towers. 

View of church from castle ramparts (defensive wall).

This huge wheel helps bring water up from castle's well to the right

View of countryside

The other remaining lookout tower (built 1260).

One of two streets running through old town Romont.

Other street running through town. Not a single patisserie shop worth mentioning. 

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.

Passed this floral squirrel(?) or chipmunk (?) entering a village.

I love cycling in the farmland.

This village has about 100 inhabitants but, like most farming villages in the area there's a church and many are beauts like this one. 

Inside of the church which was built in 1912. 

Seward Johnson sculptures (near Vevey, Switzerland)

 

I'm high above Lake Geneva at the 5-star Le Mirador Resort & Spa on a warm but overcast day.

As mentioned before, many years ago I spent six years cycling around the United States visiting the headquarters of  over 1000 of the world's biggest corporations and writing stories about it. This was followed by a four year trek around the world and a dozen years cycling around Europe doing the same.

It was during these travels that I became a big, big fan of artist Seward Johnson (1930-2020).  Johnson was the grandson of Robert Wood Johnson, co-founder of Johnson & Johnson, the healthcare giant. 

Amongst his many works Johnson designed over 350 life-size painted bronze statues--using castings of living people. During my travels I would come across his sculptures and they were simply amazing--so life-like. 

I was so impressed I ended up writing a fan letter to him in New Jersey. Several weeks later I received a coffee table book containing pictures of his works. 

Many of his works are displayed in public spaces or on the grounds of corporate headquarters. Prices range from $10,000 to over one million dollars. At one point I thought it would be fun to see how many of his works I could visit. However, many are in private hands and that idea was squashed.

The Le Mirador Resort has five of Johnson's sculptures placed around the property. 

Relaxing.

Looks like a serious conversation.

A couple checking out the view.

This one located in a hallway is titled "Thataway" with a businessman giving directions. 

He's outside the entrance to the hotel.  A gardener racking leaves.