Before school started, we took one last adventure. We drove about one and a half hours to Sion, Switzerland, which is the capital of the canton Valais. It is a really cool city with two big castles. From there we went on to see Zermatt and the Matterhorn which I will put in a second post because I went a little camera happy. It was a fun little trip and reminded me of how beautiful Switzerland is and how much it has to offer...even if it is a small, little country.
The view from our hotel window of the Valere Castle
While walking through town we came across this fountain in a little park. The green stuff looked like astro turf from far away. As we got closer we discovered it was tiny little pieces of green glass! Definitely not a kid friendly fountain, although Alex and Ruby did think it was cool.
Ruby on top of a large rhino in the same park as the glass fountain
Pete and the kids in front of St-Theodule Church (16th century)
Cathedral Notre-Dame du Glarier
If you look at the bottom of the previous picture you will see a doorway. This is what was above the door.
It was rebuilt in the 15th century but the tower remains from the 12th century. There was actually a mass taking place while we were there which prevented us from getting a good look inside.
The kids in front of the Sorcerer's Tower. This is what remains from the old city wall. It was used as a prison from the 16th to 18th century.
Why do kids like to pick up gross things? Here is a huge dead beetle tied to twine that the kids found and wanted to carry around. We let them take pictures and then put him back in his resting place. Yuck!
Apparently Pete was taking pictures of Henry and I as we walked through the old city. It was really beautiful but hard on the knees (especially in flip flops) as we started to go uphill towards the castles.
This building was so cool all covered with ivy
Pausing to catch my breath before continuing the ascent
This is the Chateau de la Majorie, a smaller castle inside the city that houses a museum now
Alex was the only one of the kids who walked the whole way up. At the top he was "too hot and sweaty to go any farther".
The Tourbillon Castle was even farther up than the Valere Castle (which is the one pictured from our hotel). Due to the heat and the willingness of our kids, or lack thereof, we stuck with touring the Valere Castle.
Henry and I inside the Valere Castle walls. In the background you can see the Tourbillon Castle.
A view of Sion from the top of the Valere. If you look towards the center of the picture you can see the tower of the cathedral where we started our walk.
Ruby with Sion in the background
Ruby and Henry taking a snack break
Alex inside Valere
This is the church of the Valere Castle. It was just outside the walls of the castle.
Alex and Henry
Alex trying to sneak a peak through the key hole since the doors were locked.
1 comments:
I like your new haircut! Very cute.
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