Housesitting, Housesitting in Switzerland, Walking with animals

Housesitting in Aubonne

Suzanne

I can think of no better way to get to know an area than to wander the streets.  

Let me show you some neighbourhood walks where we have enjoyed walking. These walks are all within a few kms of where we are housesitting.  Our housesit is in the old part of the commune of Aubonne, with the adorable Fudge and, of course, with the equally lovely Squire.

Let’s go for a wander.

Aubonne is a small municipality with a rich medieval history, featuring a mix of architectural styles, narrow streets, bush walks, water fountains, pots of flowers, stunning mountain vistas, an award-winning Pâtisserie, and locals who cheerfully greet us around each corner.

What is not to love?

 Which brings me to the subject of greeting the locals.  Let me explain the difference between here and France.  Although this is a French-speaking sector of Switzerland, there is a notable difference in the way people address a woman or a man: Madame or Monsieur.  If you forget and just say “Bonjour”, a reply emphasising “Madame” is mentioned in response.  Basically, you have just been told off politely!  With a smile, I walk on by and hope I get it correct in my subsequent encounter!

Which was to be the next day, to the woman living down the road, who always acknowledged us while passing her house.  Today, she was happily chatting with a young waitress from the restaurant across the road, who luckily could understand me when I asked if it was okay to take her photo.  

What is surprising about this area is the number of vineyards.  They are located in rural areas within the city limits and on valuable land around Lake Geneva.  Wine from those vines would be sipped slowly and appreciated, as I imagine the price per bottle to be relatively high compared to the average bottle of wine.  In less than a kilometre, we can be sitting [as seen in the photo below] on a seat overlooking a vineyard.

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With a population of approx 2,550 people, this commune/village has three churches and a temple, one of which stands out and which we have walked past numerous times in the Temple.

An impressive building is Le Château d´Aubonne, which stands in grandeur atop the hill with its fabulous vistas of the village and the Swiss Alps.  I couldn’t see inside because no one was around, and the doors were closed.  Which was disappointing. However, I captured some views of the outside and the surrounding area, compensating me for not having the opportunity to enter Le Château d´Aubonne.

The view was worth the walk-up!

Another walk worth mentioning leads to the top of the hill, which features tree-lined paths that meander along a gully. The sound of a stream running, trees rustling, and birds singing makes it a tranquil place to walk and think, one that we have loved to repeat during our stay here in Aubonne.

 

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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

28 thoughts on “Housesitting in Aubonne”

    1. Thanks, Parul, that’s very kind of you to say. Lovely village to housesit in and I enjoy taking Fudge, the dog for walks around here.

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    1. April, it is the French part[?] of Switzerland, many people speak French, and I suppose the architecture would represent that part of the community. It is very much a mixture of France and Switzerland. A few Swiss flags flying amongst the community gardens, such in case you forget it is Switzerland 🙂

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  7. Gorgeous photos! I love walking and try to go on even a short one everyday. I wrote a similar blog post abut the most beautiful walks in colorado springs. Cool seeing the same concept somewhere totally different – but equally scenic!

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    1. Thanks for your comment. I love walking and taking photos. Will have to go and check out your post as I haven’t seen it or visited Colorado Springs 🙂

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    1. Hi Janis, now this is hard to explain, even though we don’t speak much French it feels though we understand quite a bit. We get by with hand gestures and eventually find words that both parties know. We now feel quite comfortable in countries where we don’t speak the language as we do find ways to do basic communication. Suz

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