LITE

We'll continue on forest roads which follow the lake's marshalands before reaching the town of Estavayer. You may want to stop here for to wander the medieval center, see the castle or visit the "cabinet des curiousités" that we call the "frog museum".

We'll then turn away from the lake and travel through flowered lowlands to get to the regional hub of Payerne and its arcaded pedestrian streets. You'll notice that the farmland is very rich here and that all sorts of vegetables and fruit are being grown.

We eventually come to the small town of Avenches. Once known as Aventicum, this was the most important Roman settlement in all of Switzerland. Its amphitheater is still used for the opera and rock festivals held each summer.

We'll also stop in the small walled city of Murten. The ramparts, arcaded streets and lake front merit more time than we have to spare…even if the summer days are long here. Our final destination is the very small village of Munchenwiler where we'll be staying on the grounds of a former château. Relax by the pond, walk the grounds and meet the group to compare notes over a glass of beer before sitting down to a sumptous barbecue.

Note: Independent tour riders will be staying at a hotel in Murten, as the hotel in Munchenwiler only opens for groups.

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