H4's Recommendations visiting Muriaux

If you are desperate for foi gras, then head straight to the Croix Federale in Muriaux...

...but otherwise the choice between the two places is difficult, not only for patriots! The menu with Gilles and Marion in the Croix Federal (Tel. 032 951 12 57, closed Tuesday from 3pm and Wednesday) is small and delicious - try the deep fried carp a discretion after foi gras!!! - and service very friendly. With Madame next door in the Hotel National, the atmosphere is equally friendly, but very busy particularely at lunch time when workers crowd in for a substantial meal, including fruit and cheese for not much more than 15Sfr.! But the real reason to go there is Madame herself: she prepares, cooks, serves and tidyies up the place all herself, and food is good, on time and rounded of with a perfect espresso! A real self made woman to be supported every now and then.
For more self made experience go before or after the meal for a visit to the Foundation Oscar and Janine Jaggli: Oscar is an artist of huge metal sculptures, many of them designed in the vonRoll black smith factories with nothing smaller than 3000t presses and gable staplers. But the real reason to go there is Janine, his wife, which does wonderful guided tours through the work of her husband, also his excentric music, with a modest mention of her own contributions, eg. as a great photographer. Very worth to visit. The workshop itself is a look worth too: it is a former horse relais on the Berne-Paris route! Arrange a visit before hand, Tel. 079 240 20 73 or '32 951 23 71; www.iroise.ch/fondation-wiggli

In one of the Wiggli Publications, we also came accross one of the very best descriptions of the Franche Montagnes we love:

"Wer Oscar Wiggli (in Muriaux) aufsucht, durchfährt eine unschweizerisch grossatmige, akzentarme, wortkarge Landschaft, lange Strassendörfer an Talhängen, dann Hochflächen, Hochweiden, langausschwingende Horizonte, Niederungen mit schweigenden Herden von Pferden und Fleckvieh."

And if you happen to be in Muriaux on the second week end of February, then do not miss on the Winter version of the Marche Concours! Dressed up like Russian Tsars, parallel sledge runs to the sounds of dramatic music are great to watch, or you let youself draw by gallopping horses on skies - maybe something for godfather Phil, too?