2024-07-08 Neuchâtel ===================== We spent two nights in Neuenburg or Neuchâtel. They came under Prussian control in 1707 because the locals were looking for a government that was far away and wouldn't meddle in their affairs. It became a republic and a canton of Switzerland in 1848. > On the death in 1707 of Marie d'Orleans-Longueville, duchess de > Nemours and Princess of Neuchâtel, the people had to choose her > successor from among fifteen claimants. They wanted their new prince > first and foremost to be a Protestant, and also to be strong enough > to protect their territory but based far enough away to leave them > to their own devices. Louis XIV actively promoted the many French > pretenders to the title, but the Neuchâtelois people passed them > over in favour of King Frederick I of Prussia, who claimed his > entitlement in a rather complicated fashion through the Houses of > Orange and Nassau. With the requisite stability assured, Neuchâtel > entered its golden age, with commerce and industry (including > watchmaking and lace) and banking undergoing steady expansion. – > Wikipedia We met a friend and went for a walk in the late afternoon: from La Neuveville up the Combe du Pulouvi. I took some flower pictures. At the new Jeunes Rives. It looked very nice but we did see a big dead fish, belly up. That dampened our enthusiasm somewhat. We began our walk around four. Ästige GraslilieAnthericum ramosum Gewöhnliches SonnenröschenHelianthemum nummularium There were some nice waterfalls to see on the way up. And a view of the Lac de Bienne. Bunte KronwickeSecurigera varia HabichtskrautHieracium Wildes AlpenveilchenCyclamen purpurascens More pools… And waterfalls… But was cool and full of moss. Nesselblättrige GlockenblumeCampanula trachelium Alpen-ZiestStachys alpina Sometimes you see plants that you feel you have never seen in your whole life. Wiesen-WachtelweizenMelampyrum pratense An even better view of the lake. That very long and narrow line of land connects the town of Erlach or Cerlier to St. Peter's Island. Breitblättrige LichtnelkeSilene latifolia Efeu-SommerwurzOrobanche hederae Breitblättrige PlatterbseLathyrus latifolius And back to Neuchâtel (“Newcastle”). #Pictures #Switzerland #Switzerland