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Published: June 15th 2017
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A walk near a lake Rossiniere
Rossiniere is not far from Chateau D'Oex near the end of the valley before entering the French canton of Fribourg The day started with another thunder storm which soon cleared and became a sunny day of 28 degrees with little wind. We had thought we might cycle to Chateau D'Oex but were glad we didn't as the path is on the road which is narrow and winding. It's harrowing enough in the car never mind a bike.
In true TTAT's ethics we packed a picnic lunch and thermos and set off for the Tourismus office at Chateau D'Oex which is in the French Vaud canton of Switzerland. The language is now French despite being only a few kilometres to Saanenland. I guess it has to have an official change somewhere. We asked about walks in the area and chose to go around a lake not far down the road at Rossiniere. It was very quiet indeed and once again we seemed to be the only ones on the path. Unfortunately with the heavy rain in the mountains over the past 2 days the water was a bit murky and not the usual blue. Pleasant though.
From here it is only another 20kms to Gruyeres and we remember this area as being lovely when we visited several years back, probably
Gruyeres Castle Village
The main cobbled street to the castle within the village walls. No doubt the street wasn't this pristine in the middle ages. at the end of the Alpine Pass Route trip. The cheese factory is well worth a visit and set up very much for tourists. Of course, this is where Gruyere Cheese comes from. It is set in broad rolling countryside, out of the Alps and now into dairy farming land with many small towns and villages dotted over the landscape. We had come to visit the castle because last time we walked up the hill and around the castle walls and village but not in the castle. It is absolutely lovely, set up on a hill with castle walls around the main castle and lovely medieval houses and shops below the castle and within the walls. It is a very popular place to visit so you have to be prepared for crowds although it wasn't too bad today.
The Gruyere area was discovered in 400 and the castle built in the 1104 by a Count and continued down through his line, flourishing mostly in the 1500's. The castle became a stately manor with baroque furniture, medieval landscapes and other art works. Some rooms looked cold and forbidding but had huge fire places to warm them. Other areas had decorated
wall art and tapestries for some light relief. They must have been incredibly short in centuries ago as the bed in one room was only big enough for Deken who is 8! Outside is a cobbled courtyard with terraced wooden galleries looking over it and around another side was a lovely formal garden. No doubt in the past it had been smelly and messy but now it is charming and lovely.
We watched a 20 minute fllm of the history of the area and the castle which was well done and worthwhile - knights, counts, horses, wars, death, destruction and rebuild. Finally, the castle area was handed over to the Gruyere community and it is now a history museum.
I cannot get to grips with the French language. It never seems to sound like it looks. Chateau D'Oex sounds like Chateau Day. Is it Freeborg or Fryborg for Fribourg? And what's the point of adding s's onto a word if it's not used?
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