La Tour-de-Peilz Castle, La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland

Built in the 13th century by Pierre de Savoie, the castle of La Tour-de-Peilz served as a fortress and refuge, as an observation post of traffic along lake Geneva, and as a customs post.

In 1476, during the Burgundy wars, it was heavily damaged. It was nearly three centuries later, that in 1747 the French officer Jean Grésier purchased and transformed the building. It remained private property until 1979, when the city of La Tour-de-Peilz purchased it, after a public vote.

Both towers, the walls, the ramparts and the moat were put under a preservation order as a historical monument in 1973. In 1987 the Swiss Museum of Games was inaugurated on the 1st and 2nd floors. The halls on the ground-floor are put at public disposal for different events.

References:

Lausanne Tourism

User Reviews

BudapestBears Janos (21 months ago)
Check it out if you are in the region. The special exhibit was very good.

Jeremy Boulat (2 years ago)
Relatively pricey I would visit again with more time on my hands. I arrived late in the day, and so I had to rush through the museum. The first floor was great, but the audio guide did not work. The second floor was alright, relatively boring as it focused all on one game.

Sarah Flanders (2 years ago)
It's small but if you like games it's a treat. And the chateau has a pleasant casual courtyard restaurant.

Tara O'Brien (2 years ago)
I really like this museum...but I also really like games! This museum is situated in an old castle on a beautiful viewpoint in Vevey by the lake. It's worth visiting, if only for the view. The museum takes up three floors, and so there are stairs. There is an elevator for wheelchairs and strollers. The strollers are not permitted in the museum so bring a baby carrier. The museum explains the histories of different games, has lots of games for visitors to learn and play, and has game rooms on two floors. We played several of the games from Mancala, to darts, to the pin ball table. The shop has lots of games to buy and take home. So, if you are looking for a particular game, they may sell it here. They carry French language versions of games only. Overall, great museum and especially worth visiting with children eight and up who can enjoy playing all the games.

Gustav Brink (2 years ago)
Interesting exhibit of older games, but very few of the games if the last 20 odd years are featured. May not take photographs in the museum either.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

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Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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