Battle of Murten: Ramparts, Roofs, Allotment Gardens

Murten:  Commerce, Ramparts, Secrets, Allotment Gardens

Murten has always served as a commercial crossroads.  The main square is busy. Fuchs is a big business, with several storefronts.

Murten, Switzerland, main square

Climb around the ramparts, however, and find locked doors with big keyholes.  Look in and find a nice room with an inviting door to the outer walkways - no access for you.

Murten, secret walled rooms, ramparts, Switzerland

Peer down the alley, where the houses share a party wall with the City Walls, and see a mannequin on the balcony staring back at you, there midway up, at the center; and then a nice chair on the cobbles for people-watching.  This is not a museum city. 

Murten, houses at the wall, alleyways, Switzerland

The Battle of Murten, see://www.muellerscience.com/ENGLISH/Switzerland.htm/.

In 1476, the Confederation was attacked by the Burgundians from the French side of things; and sent out runners to get help. The other Swiss groups indeed responded, and - to the surprise of the better-equipped Burgundians - the Swiss Confederation combined army won.  Here are cannonballs from that battle, still in the walls of Murten.

Cannonballs, embedded in City Walls, Murten, Switzerland

This angle showing cannonballs shows how high the walls are - remember that there are two to three story buildings on the other side, sharing the wall.  Houses, Inns, shops.   The Burgundians were driven into the lake, and tales are told of thousands drowning in armor; so that for years after, parts of bodies and equipment were coming up on shore.

Battle of Murten, cannonballs, Burgundians defeated, Switzerland

See the diorama of the battle at ://www.murtenpanorama.ch/en/schlacht/221.php/  This is also known as the Battle of Morat. See ://home.eckerd.edu/~oberhot/morat.htm

Murtensee, Lake Murten, beyond City Walls, Murten Switzerland

Go outside again, the other side from the cannonballs, and see nice gardens for vegetables and flowers all along the City Walls.  Even - what do you call those shaped wall plants climbing up?

Allotment gardens, outside City Walls, Murten, Switzerland

In many European cities, there will be an allotment garden area outside or in the town, where people get a small plot and set up a mini-house, not just for equipment, but also for a bed and a chair for a get-away.   Gardener's time off.

Allotment Garden house, Murten, Switzerland

Dizzying climb up to the ramparts, interior wooden stair.