The Canton Next Door

When Bob and I do not travel a great distance on a weekend, we take day trips to locations nearby. Train travel here is so good that all we need to do is choose a place and there is an efficient and convenient way to get there.

The view over Montreux from above the town

On three separate occasions over the past month, we have opted to head to Vaud, the canton directly south of Neuchâtel. Although we saw three lovely spots, we have much more to experience in the region.

Fountain in the old town of Montreux

The first of these excursions took us to Montreux, a resort town on Lake Geneva, part of the riviera of Switzerland. Most visitors to the area focus on the lakefront, and while we spent a significant amount of time there, we also decided to ascend to the quiet streets of the old town. Above this are vineyards very like those on the outskirts of Neuchâtel. The views from these heights are quite spectacular!

We had the old town to ourselves on this Saturday.

On the waterfront, a walkway follows the lakeshore, while luxury hotels and shops line the main street a few meters away, To add greater interest to the area, there are many whimsical sculptures along the way. The most famous of these is a bronze of Freddie Mercury, the iconic Queen soloist.

Freddie and me

These sculpted figures look like aliens,

Our boat.

In the early afternoon, we boarded an old-fashioned steamer boat for a short trip east on the lake to the Château Chillon, the most visited castle in Switzerland. Its location on a rocky outcrop of land, its romantic appearance, and its association with British poet Lord Byron have made this place a must-see for many.

Approaching the castle

In the cellar

Inside the castle

Château Chillon is well worth the visit. With dungeons, great rooms, towers and an extensive wall-walk, it has everything a castle lover would enjoy. We spent a happy two hours exploring its many wonders.

In one of the many courtyards

The view from the top.

Eventually, we made our way back to Neuchâtel, wondering why we had waited so long to see this beautiful place.

Ouchy is known for this unusual sculpture.

A day later, we took a shorter journey to Lausanne, the capital city of Vaud. We had toured this city in September of 2014, but our wanderings were limited to the upper part of the city at that time. On this day, we descended to the water's edge, to the port area, Ouchy.

I got a Scrabble game at the flea market.

We had discovered that there was a large flea market that day, so that was a draw for us, but even more intriguing was the Olympic Museum. Lausanne is the headquarters of the IOCC and this organization owns extensive grounds close to the lake. Outside the museum itself are many statues depicting athletes in performance.

Cyclists outside the Olympic Museum

These guys are too heavy for  football.

I have always enjoyed the Olympic Games, summer and winter, so for me this museum was great fun. There was a large area where the relationship of the media with the Games was shown. From early newsreels to radio broadcasts to modern wide-ranging television coverage, the growth and scope of the Olympics boggles the mind.

Learning about the ancient Olympics

In another area, we learned about the ancient Olympics in Greece and the events that took place there. The founder of the modern movement, Pierre de Coubertin, was highlighted in yet another room.

Some of the torches

My daughters both wore these mitts.

On display as well, were torches from every modern Olympic Games, and memorabilia from the host cities. We learned about the athletes' villages and the memories of some of the greatest stars of the Games. In an interactive space, we could (virtually) test our skill at some events and stand on a podium as winners of gold, silver or bronze.

Bob and I recall our Olympic medal in pairs figure skating.

All in all, the Olympic Museum in Lausanne does a great job in capturing the history and spirit of the Olympic Games. And, of course, it grows every other year.

Inside the museum.

Our most recent destination in Vaud was the Château de Grandson, near Yverdon-les-Bains, a mere seventeen minutes away from Neuchâtel. A short bus ride from there and we were at the entrance gate. A delightful bonus here in Switzerland is that we can buy bus tickets at the train station, so we had everything we needed before we left.

The walls of the castle

Othon I, a famous member of the Grandson family

This château, like many of the others in the region, has a long history. The sires of Grandson built this fortress in the 14th century. There have been wars and alliances aplenty since then, with famous European families connected in one way or another with the place.  It has belonged to France, Burgundy and Switzerland since its construction.

No reason for this photo, except that I like it.

In some ways, the structure is reminiscent of the Château Chillon, with its rounded towers and wall walk. It is less known, however, and so has had to reinvent itself to attract tourists. There are rooms for rent for private events, a car museum in the crypt area, and displays of medieval armour and weaponry, as well as a large diorama of a battle.

Car Museum

The diorama

The sunshine and blue sky that day provided stunning light and backdrop to our photos. This was a pretty place indeed.

A courtyard of the castle

The exterior of Château de Grandson

Before we returned to Neuchâtel, we explored the small village nearby with its charming old church. It, too, looked particularly beautiful in the afternoon light.

The church