THE TOWN OF THUN (TOON)

Thun is a town in Switzerland in the canton (state) of Bern. It has been described as the prettiest town in Europe and the most untouched historic town. It sits on the Aare River as it leaves the Lake of Thun (Thunersee). It is dominated by the Castle and Church and has the amazing backdrop of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau Mountains in the Swiss Alps.

In 1967, Bill (Wilhelm) and his friend Ben left Thun for Australia so that they could learn English. They were in their twenties and keen for adventure. They intended returning to Thun after the compulsory stay of two years when you migrate for 10 pounds. Both married and stayed in Australia. As the river leaves the lake it splits into two creating an island. It is called, The Balliz and it is where Bill lived. After we were married we lived there for six months. But Bill decided he preferred Australia so we returned in 1971. We went back often to visit his parents and I fell in love with Thun.

The ancient castle presides over the town. It is a Romansque square tower with four corner turrets in Norman Style. It was built in 1186 by Berchtold V of Zäringen. Today it houses a museum including tapestries from the 1300's, armour, weapons, pottery, uniforms and costumes. It also has a restaurant in the courtyard. We climbed up into the turrets, we could see all over Thun, where people have been recorded as living here since 1130.

Part of the view from the castle.

The church which stands on a hill overlooking Thun is not far from the Castle. It is the City Church. It is the Reformed Protestant Church. It has old paintings but it is remarkably modern inside. When Bill was young, he and his friend Roland used to ring the bells by pulling on the ropes. It is automatic now. 

 

Bill often played in band concerts in the church.

If you really want to see how beautiful this town is go to You Tube and type in Thun, Switzerland.

THE STORY OF FUHLEHUNG

When we were in Bill's hometown of Thun, Switzerland, he showed us the statue of "Fuhlehung" (lazy dog). He is a court jester wearing a devil's mask.The Fuhlehung appears every year in September at the "Ausschiesst" (Shoot-out) Festival. When Bill was a child he was told this story:
In early days when the Duke of Zaringen lived in the castle and ruled the land he ordered the court jester to wake him and his men early to go to a battle, but the jester slept in and made them late in setting off. The Duke was so angry that he chased the jester out of the castle calling him a lazy dog -"Fuhlehung".
Now days an unknown person dressed as the Fuhlehung appears every year at The "Ausschiesset" (Shoot-out) Festival in September. The Shoot-out Festival is where the town cadets have a crossbow shooting competition. This festival stops the town for 3 days while the people celebrate in many ways. There are processions, dinners and much partying but for the children the appearance of Fuhlehung is one of the highlights. They chase him through the streets calling him a lazy dog-Fuhlehung. He carries a stick and inflated pigs bladders and he (pretends to) whop the children if they catch him or do anything naughty. This practice can be traced back to the 15th century.
I have been lucky enough to have witnessed the festival a few times. I was woken at 4:00 am to the chant of hundreds of children calling "Fuhlehung,Fuhlehung, hung, hung," as they searched the streets looking for him. Then later in the day there is the procession to the Shoot-out competition. One of the Fuhlehung's jobs is to keep the crowds quiet while the cadets shoot.

Children chasing Fuhlehung calling him lazy dog.
He carries a baton and inflated pigs bladders to punish naughty people.

No one knows who is behind the mask.
Keeping the crowds quiet.

Posing with the cadet crossbow shooters.

Look out here he comes

Fuhlehung with inflated pigs bladders.

He can often be found hanging out of a first floor shop window throwing sweets down to all the children hunting for him.

Adventure in Europe 2008 PART 14 (Switzerland-Thun)

Thursday 11 September
Today we are taking a ferry from Spiez to Thun (Toon), Bills hometown. The weather is still overcast but the mountains are peeping through the mist.

On the Lake of Thun.

We pass many castles and.....

...little villages.

We arrive in Thun and Roland (Bill's school friend) is there to meet us. (photo by Roland)

The clan.....Paul, Bill, Helen, me, Ann (my sister-in-law), David (my brother) and Carol-Ann (our daughter) (photo by Roland)

Roland had organised us a tour of the town church including the bell tower. (photo by Carol)

We walked over the old covered bridge.

Inside the church Bill and Roland relive their childhood. When they were boys they were the bell ringers, so they were going to show us what they did.

We climbed up many stairs.(photo by Carol)

We came to a museum of past bells from the church.

Then to the bells of today, but the boys couldn't ring them because now they are rung electronically.(photo by Carol)

The bell ringers relive the past.(photo by Carol)

In the bell tower.(photo by Carol)

The view of Thun from the bell tower. (photo by Carol)

Then we climbed all the way down hundreds of steps into the town to the street where Bill used to live. You get a good view of the Thun Castle from here.

We visited the Castle on the way down from the church.

This is a statue of "Fuhlehung"a character from a Thun legend. He is carrying a baton and inflated pigs bladders to beat the children with. Every September the people have a festival to celebrate the legend.

Then we caught the ferry back to our hotel. The weather isn't getting any better.

That evening Bill's cousin and daughter, with their husbands, came to the hotel to have dinner with us.

Bill with cousin Hedi and her son in law, Peter.

Carol meets her 2nd cousin, Brigitte, for the first time and Hedi's husband Martin too.

My brother, David and wife,Ann. I hadn't seen them for a long time. They live in London.

Poor Helen and Paul had to put up with our family gathering.