Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

16 Musée des Grenouilles
Estavayer-le-Lac " ⌂ 13 Rue du Musée Did You Know?
# Mar–Oct: 10am–noon
& 2–5pm Tue–Sun; Nov–
! B4 @ n 16 Rue de l’Hôtel Feb: 2–5pm Sat & Sun The Roman settlement
de Ville; www.estavayer-
payerne.ch ∑ musee desgrenouilles.ch of Aventicum was
named after the
Surrounded on three sides by Helvetian goddess
the canton of Vaud, this small 17 of spring, Aventia.
town on the southern shore
of Lake Neuchâtel lies within Avenches
an enclave of the canton of ! B4 @ n 3 Place de
Fribourg. A popular yachting l’Église; www.avenches.ch The Musée Romain, set within
centre, Estavayer-le-Lac is the amphitheatre, contains an
also a pleasant medieval Originally the capital of the impressive display of Roman
town with arcaded streets. Helveti, the Celtic tribe that artifacts dis covered during
Its focal point is the Château once ruled this part of the excavations at Aventicum.
de Cheneaux, a fine Gothic country, Avenches was con- The exhibits range from
castle that is now the seat quered by the Romans in the items of daily life to statues
of local government. 1st century BC. Named of Roman deities, mosaics
The Musée des Grenouilles Aventicum, it became the and wall paintings.
(Frog Museum), housed in capital of the Roman province Avenches is famous for its
a 15th-century mansion, of Helvetia. Vestiges of the music festivals, including an
contains an eclectic assem- Roman city can still be seen to eclectic rock festival that has
blage of exhibits, including the east of the medieval town drawn international artists for
kitchen implements. It also centre. The most complete of nearly 30 years to perform in
boasts an unusual curiosity, these remains is the amphi- the Roman amphitheatre
namely a collection of 108 theatre, with seating for 6,000. each August.
stuffed frogs (grenouilles) and Other features include the
other creatures arranged in Tornallaz, a tower that is the Musée Romain
poses that parody the social only surviving part of the old " ⌂ Tour de l’Amphithéâtre
life of the mid-19th century. city walls, the forum, the # Apr–Sep: 10am–5pm Tue–
The scenes, including dinner baths and a 12-m (40-ft) Sun; Oct, Feb & Mar: 2–5pm
parties and playing pool, were Corinthian column known Tue–Sun; Nov–Jan: 2–5pm
created by François Perrier, an as the Tour du Cigognier. Wed–Sun ∑ aventicum.org
eccentric resident of Estavayer
who served in the Vatican’s
Swiss Guard and who put
together this somewhat
bizarre display in the 1860s.

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