Grandson & Avenches

On the move again today. We started with views across Lake Neuchâtel and ended the day over looking another beautiful lake, Murtensee. In between we have visited two interesting villages, Grandson and Avenches - as well as doing some shopping!

Our first visit this morning was to Grandson, a village south of Neuchâtel and over looking the Lake Neuchâtel. The dominant feature of the town is the 11th century castle which over saw the famous battle of Grandson which ultimately led to the demise of the Burgundian power in Europe. We took a walk about the town before heading off to do our Monday shopping.  

Grandson Castle 

Views around Grandson. 

Our drive to Avenches took us north on the right side of Lake Neuchâtel through the area referred to as the Swiss Plateau. This plateau grows an incredible variety of crops and vegetables. 

Avenches is a town with two important aspects; the medieval and the Roman. Two thousand years ago this was Aventicun, the Roman capital for this Helvetii territory. In Roman times the city had about 20,000 people, an important crossroads on this Swiss plateau. The site today is one of the most important Roman sites in Switzerland. The Romans found Aventicum in around 15 BC, but there is little visible remains today. 

The 16,000 seat amphitheater, the remains of the temple and the Roman Theatre. 

The Roman museum houses many of the major archeological finds from the excavations. Top, 30AD statue of Salenus; the very important gold bust of the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, was found in 1939 in a sewer; bronze  foot from a bronze statue of a horseman and small figures of gladiators who would have fought in the amphitheater. 

Other statues, the goddess Minerva and A Portrait of a Princess, and mosaics of two fighting gladiators - all from the museum. 

The other part of Avenches is its medieval story. Avenches has well preserved buldings from the medieval times. It was interesting to see that some of the 13th century castle was being used as the local school. 

It was getting late in the day so we drove on a few kilometres to Vully-les-Lacs for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. And what a very pleasant place to spend the rest of the day, with great views across Murtensee and with alps in the background.