Today we felt like eating perch from the lake, so we went to Murten to our favorite restaurant, Anatolia.

We met a couple from California at the station in Interlaken. They had taken a river cruise originating in Budapest. They are now heading to Zermatt for a couple days, then onto Luzern before flying back to California on Sunday.
We took the IC train from Interlaken West to Bern. This is a 50 minute ride with stops in Spiez and Thun. We have a 16 minute layover in Bern before catching the regional train to Murten.
When I’m traveling from Interlaken to Bern, I try to sit on the side by the lake.




We pass a place where they raise deer and I check out what pasture they are grazing in, every time I pass by.

They grow grapes for wine in Spiez. It is such a quaint little community.

Thun is larger in population than Interlaken. They have a castle overlooking the small city. You can embark on a cruise of Lake Thun in Interlaken and end in Thun. Pleasant way to pass an afternoon.
Once we leave Thun, the train picks up speed.
Between Thun and Bern they grow many different crops.
Potatoes

Apples, corn, sugar beets, carrots, lettuce



Sun flowers for seeds and oil are also grown in this area.
Of course, cows graze in the fields.
We have a 16 minute wait in Bern to change tracks and then a 32 minute regional train ride to Murten.
This is the regional train. Marks are required on all forms of transportation.



The nearby Grosses Moos is regarded as the vegetable-growing area of Switzerland. Fertile land was created after the course of the inshore waters was corrected twice (1868-1891 and 1962-1972). Around 40 types of vegetables are now grown here. Regional wine, fish and vegetables: no wonder this region is reputed to be gourmet country.

Tomatoes are grown in hothouses


Sugar beets

Lettuces


Cabbage

Carrots


The corn is very small for this time in the growing season.

Look closely in front of the picture. Potatoes are being harvested.


Murten, or Morat, is a German and French-speaking medieval town on the southeast shore of Lake Murten, in western Switzerland. Its defensive walls offer views of the lake and the decorated arcades of the old town. The Murten Museum has archaeological finds and a multimedia display about local history. Nearby, the baroque German Church has a 15th-century wooden pulpit, a stucco ceiling and a Gothic choir.


Lake Morat or Lake Murten (French Lac de Morat; German : Murtensee) is a lake located in the cantons of Fribourg and Vaud. It is named after the small bilingual town of Morat/Murten on its southern shore.
It is the smallest of the three lakes in the Seeland or Pays des trois lacs area of Swiss plateau located at the foot of the first chain of the Jura mountains. The main tributary is the river Broye.
Since the Jura water correction, its water leaves the lake through the Broye Canal (Canal de la Broye) into nearby Lake Neuchâtel that is connected to Lake Bienne/Lake Biel through the Thielle canal. Thus all three lakes form a natural reservoir in order to retain overflow water from the river Aare that flows into Lake Bienne/Biel: in times of combined heavy rainfalls and glacier melting in the Alps, the peculiar situation arises that the water flows backwards through the Thielle and Broye canals, preventing an overflow of the Grand Marais German: Grosses Moos).
Mount Vully (653 m) is a hill of the Swiss Plateau, located between Lake Morat and Lake Neuchâtel in the canton of Fribourg east of the border with the canton of Vaud.
The south side, overlooking Murten and its lake, is covered by vineyards. The north side, overlooking Lake Neuchâtel, is mostly wooded.
The Mount Vully is situated on the western side of the Seeland's largest plain and resembles a pearl gently placed between the three lakes of Murten, Neuchâtel and Biel. The Celtic and Helvetic tribes appreciated the region's temperate climate and the local countryside's particular charm. Secrets from these ancient settlers can be rediscovered in Vully's archaeological sites.
The Mount Vully has a very particular climate which suits just perfectly for growing grapes in the vineyards and growing all others fruits and vegetables, like rhubarb or onions. The over 150 hectares of vineyards face Lake Murten, which guarantees the region's mild climate. On the other side of Mount Vully, vegetable fields are cultivated. The protected natural reserves along La Broye and the shores of Lake Neuchâtel offer peace and quiet to both walkers and nature lovers.
The hiking trails are very easy and perfect for family's or for people looking for a cool walk. The wine path, botanical path, historic path & shores path are parts of the different itineraries you can do. The truck-farming path is perfect for cycling and to have a look at the variety of agricultural crops, which provide fresh vegetables and fruits for all the little markets around there and the Swiss supermarkets.
The villages on the southern slope, from Môtier, Praz and Lugnorre to Gévaux, are traditionally characterized by wine growing. Where the Romans planted the first vines 2,000 years ago, winegrowers from Fribourg and Vaud now produce excellent wines. The whole of Vully, with 150 hectares of vines or 1% of the cultivated area in Switzerland, is a small, but excellent wine region. At the same time, excellent restaurants await visitors in search of culinary delights.

Mont Vully

Vineyards on Mont Vully






Once arriving in Murten we went to lunch. Eyup immediately recognized us! Remember it has been two years since we have seen each other. He hugged Michael first then me. Even though the restaurant was full for lunch he made time to talk with us for quite awhile.



The waitress handed us a menu but Eyup said he had already ordered for us. Yes, he remembered exactly what we like to eat and the wine we liked!!! “Our table” was occupied, though. He started us off with something special the cook prepared. Delicious! I could tell there were red and yellow peppers, carrots, onions and spices. I’m not sure what else. It went so well with the hot bread from the oven.

Hot bread from the oven. It was crusty on the outside and soft inside.

We had a salad topped with pomegranate seeds and pomegranate dressing. The lettuce and tomato were fresh picked this morning. I can certainly tell a fresh picked tomato and one that has come from the store. Main course was the fresh perch from the lake in a butter lemon sauce and salted potatoes (potatoes boiled in salted water). I can’t describe the taste of the perch and do it justice. Amazing!!!! Tasty!!! Memorable!!! Eyup’s mom was not cooking today but the chef prepared it expertly.


To drink, we had a small bottle of Vully. It complimented the fish so well.


We were too full for dessert but there is always room for a little taste of Swiss chocolate.

June 13, 2021, Eyup and his wife had a baby boy, Kîyan. Kîyan actually is a Persian name meaning “king”. I asked to see pictures of his son and he beamed when showing them to me. He is such a proud father. He said it was an amazing experience to see his son born.

Before we left, Eyup presented me with a bracelet. He said we will always be friends.

We asked what the effect of Covid had on the business. He said the restaurant had to be closed three different times. (about 7 months total time). The first time, the government paid salaries and rent; the second time nothing was given to help and the third time only rent was given.
He said lately business is going well. The tourists coming are predominantly Swiss from other parts of the country.
After lunch, we walked around the tiny town.
They love their espresso and coffee.






This store sold Italian products like limoncello.

Love walking down the covered arcades and looking in the store windows.

When was the last time you went into a women's hat shop?


I have a rubber ducky collection. Hope the next time we come back to Anatolia the shop will be open.

This advent calendar is for the adults.








Walking on cobblestone is hard on the feet.







Unique windows

German Church (reform)
Color blind people can not see the star

Seats were numbered as this will be one of the venues for their concert series





Angel wings pipe organ





We climbed the ramparts.






Ramparts




Connected to the church


Entrance to the back of the church. Rock worn away over the years.





Inside the city walls


The catholic church is outside the city walls


Walking along the ramparts and admiring the chimneys



There is always one that wants to stand out from the crowd



You can't make the excuse you don't what time it is in Switzerland. There are clocks everywhere.









Of course, I visited the two churches. I wrote prayer intentions and lit candles at the Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mauritius was built in 1885 by Adolphe Fraisse in Neo-Gothic style. In 1985, the thirteen ogival windows of the nave were inaugurated by the artist Yvan Moscatelli - "Lumière d'espoir". In favorable light conditions, you will encounter a radiant sea of colors.



Michael fell asleep before I could get him to translate this about the labyrinth.



No water to bless yourself due to Covid restrictions




Masks are required to be worn in all churches.
I light candles and write prayer intentions for family and friends.





Marc Chagall illustrated bible


Murten is still having their music festival from August 15th to September 5th. Concerts are being held by the police station as well as the church.





Beautiful day for an outdoor game of chess with temperatures around 70-72 degrees.

Playing in the park

Another day comes to a close in the medieval town of Murten/Morat depending whether you are speaking German or French.

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